With a new online platform, the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) aims to simplify the fight against counterfeiting in the EU. For this, the IP Enforcement Portal now allows rights holders and authorities to effectively exchange information using one central interface.
The new portal enables trademark owners to easily share information about their products and IP rights with the authorities. Enforcement authorities within the EU can then directly access the data provided – e.g. on packaging and other distinctive markers – to identify potential counterfeits and take action against IP infringements more quickly, according to the EUIPO.
The platform also provides important information on IP infringement in non-member countries. Rights holders can use the data to tailor their brand protection strategies to those countries’ specific IP infringement landscapes, according to the EUIPO. At the same time, the online portal can be used to report trademark violations in non-EU countries directly to the EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade.
The new IP Enforcement Portal combines the individual functions of various previous tools: It replaces the EUIPO Enforcement Database (EDB) as a means of communication between rights holders and enforcement authorities, the Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool (ACIST) as a source for statistical data, and the Anti-Counterfeiting Rapid Intelligence System (ACRIS). The portal is available in any of the EU member state languages.
