First prize went to imitations of a bottle set for newborns (the original can be seen on the left in the article image above). The genuine product from Philips AVENT is made of BPA-free plastic and is odorless and tasteless. The imitation “AVEAT,” distributed by a Chinese company and awarded by Plagiarius, raises doubts about its quality, according to Plagiarius: The low price and photos of the production sites of the knock-offs are cause for concern in view of the planned use of the products for newborns. As reported, the imitations were seized during a raid, after which a court ordered the Chinese company to cease related business and pay damages.
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Second place was awarded to a copy of the AXOR MyEdition washbasin faucet from renowned manufacturer Hansgrohe, based in Schiltach, Baden-Württemberg. In addition to the protected design, the Hansgrohe and AXOR brands were also copied. According to Plagiarius, the counterfeits were sold at low prices on online marketplaces such as Taobao – and were sometimes even advertised with original photos. |
In line with this Plagiarius award, Hansgrohe also announced that the company had worked with Chinese authorities to break up a counterfeiting network in 2025. Counterfeit products with a market value of around 360,000 euros were seized, and three key individuals reportedly face criminal charges. In its release, Hansgrohe explains that the legal situation can often be complex and that counterfeiters in China use AI tools and their own IP registrations to block original manufacturers. “Counterfeit sanitary products are a safety risk. (…) At the same time, our industry suffers considerable economic damage,” explains Carmen Vetter, Team Lead Intellectual Property Rights at Hansgrohe Group. For the company from the Black Forest region, this damage is estimated to amount to somewhere between five and ten percent of its global sales.
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Third prize went to French fashion and home shopping company La Redoute, which infringed Müller Möbelwerkstätten’s exclusive worldwide rights for the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of its classic stacking lounger. The infringing product completely copied the original’s distinctive aesthetic and functional features. |
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A first special award went to numerous Chinese manufacturers and retailers who, according to Plagiarius, are flooding online markets with cheap copies of the KLIKK and KLIKK Pocket cutlery sets by koziol »ideas for friends. Despite numerous notifications, new imitations reportedly continue to appear, for example on platforms such as Alibaba. Although reported listings are deleted, counterfeiters would keep re‑posting their imitations. |
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A second special award focuses on fake shops, i.e., completely false online shops that often lure customers with cheap offers but do not deliver any goods. Last year, two fake shops copied the online shop of the GERMENS brand, as Plagiarius pointed out in its award. |
In addition, five equivalent awards were presented, which according to Plagiarius are as follows:
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One of the awards went to a copy of the Busch-balance SI switch range from the Sauerland-based manufacturer Busch-Jeager. The design and technical details of the series were copied nearly identically, and the imitation was even actively promoted as a compatible and cost-effective alternative. |
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Another award went to a copy of the Philips OneBlade razor blades. According to Plagiarius and the European Anti-Fraud Office, over 900,000 illegal razor blades were seized in the EU in 2024 alone. Philips regularly supports raids and is active to hold copycats accountable. |
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Imitations of products manufactured by koziol received yet another award, this time for copies of the robust CHEERS sparkling wine glasses. The copies were offered at one-third of the original price and were made of simple plastic. |
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Another award was given to a copy of the F450 pastry moulder from the Niederrheinische Formenfabrik Janssen. A Turkish manufacturer had copied over 25 protected components almost identically. The knock-off was even presented at a live demonstration at the iba 2025 trade fair. However, despite being more expensive than the original, it had significant functional shortcomings. |
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Finally, a copy of the popular ink rollerball pen PILOT FriXion Ball was awarded too. According to Plagiarius, copies of the pens keep appearing. The imitator that has now been singled out copied not only the design but also the FriXion logo. |
At the 50th Plagiarius Awards ceremony, this year’s laudator Dr. Hans-Jürgen Völz, Federal Managing Director of Economics at the German association Der Mittelstand. BVMW e.V., emphasized the importance of innovation for the economy: “Anyone who appropriates intellectual property without authorisation not only undermines the economic success of innovative companies, but also systematically damages the willingness to invest in Germany as a business location.” The negative award is intended to raise awareness of counterfeiting.
