EUIPO and Europol launch coalition against piracy

© Andrey Kuzmin / Fotolia.
EUIPO and Europol have joined forces to combat product and brand piracy, launching a coalition against intellectual property rights violations.

In the fight against the illegal trade with counterfeits, Europol and the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have now founded a new common task force. With assistance from the so-called Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3), product and brand piracy are to be combated in an even more targeted fashion than before, online as well as in retail stores.

The IPC3 is to support law enforcement authorities and other partners within and outside of the EU in their work, for example in coordinating cross-border investigations and observing the modi operandi of online counterfeit dealers. The IPC3 is also to promote the harmonisation and standardisation of legal instruments within the EU and contribute to awareness among law enforcement authorities and the general public.

“Intellectual property crime is not a victimless crime. The criminal networks involved in these offences expand beyond EU borders,“ explained Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol. „Thanks to the excellent cooperation between EUIPO, law enforcement agencies and private sector representatives across Europe and beyond, they can be effectively investigated and prosecuted. The newly created IPC3 offers the perfect opportunity to further develop more synergies in the fight against IPR-infringements in the EU and reinforces our already existing cooperation.“

In addition to founding IPC3, the EUIPO came to an agreement in mid-Juli with Eurojust, the European justice authority, in order to further intensify its measures in the fight against intellectual property rights violations. In particular, cooperation in the course of investigations and in the form of trainings and seminars is to be promoted in the future.

Source: EUIPO

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