Infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) is a major risk for the profitability and survival of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), according to a joint report by the EUIPO, through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report ‘Risks of Illicit Trade in Counterfeits to Small and Medium-Sized Firms’, released on Tuesday 31 January also shows that SMEs whose intellectual property is violated are 34 % less likely to survive after 5 years.

Thanks to the long-standing cooperation between the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, our well-attended joint webinar series will re-start this year.

 26 January, the EUIPO published the second edition of the Intellectual Property Infringement and Enforcement - Tech Watch Discussion Paper. This paper compiles contributions from members of the Observatory Impact of Technology Expert Group and guest experts from law enforcement, the judiciary, the private sector, academia and the EUIPO’s Digital Transformation Department.

In the last semester of 2022, the EUIPO organised two study visits with the Anti-counterfeiting Blockathon Infrastructure Project. The aim was to identify the obstacles linked to product authentication and securing the supply chain in real-world business operations.

The judges’ seminars and webinars (new since the COVID 19 pandemic) have become a regular feature on the EUIPO’s calendar.

In 2021, the number and value of goods infringing intellectual property rights detained at the EU border by customs authorities were higher than in 2020. While their value increased by only 4 % compared to the previous year, the number of items detained at the EU border in 2021 went up by 56 %.

On 15 December 2022, the EUIPO’s IP in Education initiative is organising with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) a joint IP masterclass for students and teachers....

On 13 and 14 December 2022, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is hosting a conference to exchange views and discuss fraud trends and challenges for IP rights and counterfeiting....

In May 2021 the EUIPO presented “The economic impact of COVID-19 crisis in IPR-intensive industries” with data until December 2020

On 12 and 13 December 2022, the Observatory is finally hosting the fifth edition of the IP Youth Workshop as part of its Ideas Powered initiative....