The EUIPO and the European Commission have just published the report EU Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Results at the EU Border and in the EU Internal Market 2025. The figures are worth reflecting on.
- More than 175 million counterfeit items detained in the EU internal market, with an estimated value of €4.6 billion. Nearly 71 % more items than in 2024, marking a new all-time high.
- Spain ranks second in the EU in terms of the value of counterfeit goods detained in the internal market, accounting for 10.58 % of the EU total.
Beyond the figures, the growing complexity of counterfeiting is a concern. The diversification of distribution channels, the fragmentation of supply chains and the growth of e-commerce are making counterfeit goods increasingly difficult to detect.
However, I also think it is worth considering how we interpret these figures. Does an increase in the number of seizures necessarily mean there are more counterfeit goods? Or could it also be a sign that controls are working better and that we are becoming more effective at detecting them?
Whatever the explanation, it seems that the real challenge is no longer simply to increase the number of seizures, but also to strengthen prevention and the early detection of counterfeiting. To achieve this, it is essential to improve information sharing and cooperation among authorities, rights holders, logistics operators and online sales platforms.
Laura Conde
Abogada
