German Brands Association calls for effective IP protection by new government
At this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, the German Brands Association (Markenverband) is calling on Germany’s new federal government to make IP protection a key part of its economic policy agenda. According to the association, around 144,000 parcels containing counterfeit goods arrive in Germany every week. The Brands Association emphasizes the need for an effective IP strategy, as planned in the coalition agreement, in order to protect innovation and combat counterfeiting effectively. “We expect the new federal government to present the announced national IP strategy promptly. Because the problem continues to grow every day,” said Patrick Kammerer, General Manager of the Brands Association.
Amazon in Japan ordered to pay damages for counterfeiting
A district court in Tokyo has ordered Amazon Japan to pay 35 million yen (around 210,000 euros) because the Japanese subsidiary of the US online giant did not take sufficient action against the sale of counterfeit products on its platform. According to reports, Amazon had placed a counterfeit pulse oximeter more prominently than the original. This reportedly led to significant sales losses for medical technology manufacturer Try and E Co. and its distribution partner Excel Plan Co. The court has now emphasized the responsibility of the e‑commerce platform in the fight against counterfeiting: Amazon could not claim to be a mere intermediary if it benefited financially from the sales.
OLAF reports record seizure of counterfeit fashion items
In a large‑scale operation, the European Anti‑Fraud Office (OLAF) and national authorities have seized counterfeit designer clothing, shoes, and accessories with a market value of over 180 million euros. The operation, which started back in 2024, led to the seizure of over 1.8 million counterfeit products in the EU countries of Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Italy, as well as in several non‑EU countries. One of the biggest successes was a record seizure of almost one million counterfeit items of clothing in the port of the northern Italian city of Trieste by the Italian customs authorities and the Guardia di Finanza. The counterfeit goods, which were to be shipped from Türkiye to the Netherlands in five different containers, were of remarkably high quality. Also, another container with counterfeit goods was stopped in Belgium. OLAF’s investigations are still ongoing, to dismantle the supply chains involved in this illegal trade. OLAF Director Ville Itälä commented: “This is a textbook example of what OLAF does best: coordinating across borders, analysing complex intelligence, and helping national authorities act decisively.“
Court victories against counterfeit audio equipment in Europe
The manufacturer L‑Acoustics has reported successful legal action against counterfeiters of its professional audio equipment in Europe. According to the manufacturer, companies in both Germany and Norway have been sentenced for renting out counterfeit L‑Acoustics products. In Germany, the court dismissed the argument of the company renting out the counterfeit products, which claimed that it was not liable because it was only renting the equipment and not selling it. The company was also ordered to disclose information on the origin of the counterfeit products. “This judgement not only protects our intellectual property but also helps maintain the integrity of the professional audio market,” said Laurent Ostojski, Senior Legal Counsel at L‑Acoustics.
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