World Anti-Counterfeiting Day - EUIPO launches campaign on counterfeit food and beverages in the EU
On the occasion of the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, the EUIPO has launched a campaign related to counterfeit food and beverages in the EU #WhatsOnYourTableEU, aiming to raise awareness and protect consumers from fake food and beverages.
Counterfeiting in this sector poses significant risks to public health and harms European economies and culinary heritage. In 2020, foodstuffs were the second most seized product category at the EU's external borders.
The 2025 EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment Report from Europol highlights that the growth of e-commerce has given counterfeiters new ways to distribute fraudulent food, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to identify authentic products. Criminals manipulate food labels, packaging, and manufacturing processes, often targeting high-value products.
To read the official press release of the campaign, please click here.
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ECTA is dedicated to combating counterfeiting by sharing professional experience and best practices at the EU level and beyond, particularly through our Anti-Counterfeiting Committee.
Counterfeiting in this sector poses significant risks to public health and harms European economies and culinary heritage. In 2020, foodstuffs were the second most seized product category at the EU's external borders.
The 2025 EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment Report from Europol highlights that the growth of e-commerce has given counterfeiters new ways to distribute fraudulent food, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to identify authentic products. Criminals manipulate food labels, packaging, and manufacturing processes, often targeting high-value products.
To read the official press release of the campaign, please click here.
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ECTA is dedicated to combating counterfeiting by sharing professional experience and best practices at the EU level and beyond, particularly through our Anti-Counterfeiting Committee.
2025 EUIPO Guidelines - Key Changes in Force
The 2025 edition of the Guidelines for Examination of registered European Union designs, to which ECTA contributed during the latest revision round, entered into force in May 2025.
A summary of the key changes introduced is now available here.
A summary of the key changes introduced is now available here.
EU Commission releases Report on IPRs in Third Countries, Counterfeit & Piracy Watch List
The European Commission has just published its biennial Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries, to which ECTA contributed during the 2024 public consultation. The report identifies third countries where IPR deficiencies have the greatest economic impact on EU interests. China remains the top priority country, followed closely by India and Türkiye as second priority countries. Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand are third priority countries.
Published alongside the report, the updated Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List outlines key trends and highlights websites and marketplaces reported of distributing counterfeit goods and pirated content.
Both documents will support ongoing cooperation with EU trading partners and guide IPR dialogues, working groups, and technical cooperation programmes. They also aim to help EU rights holders - especially SMEs - by raising awareness of IPR risks abroad.
Published alongside the report, the updated Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List outlines key trends and highlights websites and marketplaces reported of distributing counterfeit goods and pirated content.
Both documents will support ongoing cooperation with EU trading partners and guide IPR dialogues, working groups, and technical cooperation programmes. They also aim to help EU rights holders - especially SMEs - by raising awareness of IPR risks abroad.
Europol and EUIPO Released Updated Report on Misleading Invoices
The EUIPO and Europol have published the updated 2024 situation report on misleading payment request fraud targeting IP right owners. The report highlights a significant increase in fraudulent activity, with scammers using email spoofing, phishing, and fake IP office certificates and logos to demand average payments of EUR 1,500 - resulting in estimated yearly profits of over EUR 26 million. Criminals are also exploiting technology, including AI, to expand these activities.
The EUIPO, which continues for more than a decade to actively monitor and combat this matter through its Anti-Scam Network, urges users to verify the authenticity of the communication before taking any action. If a payment request includes a bank account that is different from the two EUIPO bank accounts held in Spain (Caixa Bank ES03 2100 2353 0107 0000 0888 and Santander ES08 0049 6659 0121 1622 4792), it does not originate from the EUIPO.
To find the updated 2024 situation report, please click here.
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ECTA takes an active role in the fight against this type of fraud. To learn more about ECTA Anti-Scam Activities and also to report any such activity to ECTA, please visit our ECTA Anti-Scam Activities page.
The EUIPO, which continues for more than a decade to actively monitor and combat this matter through its Anti-Scam Network, urges users to verify the authenticity of the communication before taking any action. If a payment request includes a bank account that is different from the two EUIPO bank accounts held in Spain (Caixa Bank ES03 2100 2353 0107 0000 0888 and Santander ES08 0049 6659 0121 1622 4792), it does not originate from the EUIPO.
To find the updated 2024 situation report, please click here.
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ECTA takes an active role in the fight against this type of fraud. To learn more about ECTA Anti-Scam Activities and also to report any such activity to ECTA, please visit our ECTA Anti-Scam Activities page.
EUIPO Releases Study on Generative AI and Copyright
The EUIPO has just published a new study "The Development of Generative Artificial Intelligence from a Copyright Perspective", developed in collaboration with the European Commission. The study examines how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) systems - relying on existing content to create new material - challenge traditional copyright protection.
In particular, the study explores:
• The use of copyright-protected works for training GenAI models;
• Legal implications of AI-generated content;
• Impact on creators, AI developers, and the copyright ecosystem.
The study also reviews the current EU legal framework on GenAI - including the Copyright in the Single Market Directive and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act - and addresses opt-out mechanisms, licensing agreements, transparency, detectability, potential revenue streams for creators, and ongoing legal disputes related to GenAI and IP.
To read the executive brief please click here. To read the full study, please click here.
The ECTA AI and Data Committee, with the support of other Committees, is closely following AI developments and their implications across various IPRs.
In particular, the study explores:
• The use of copyright-protected works for training GenAI models;
• Legal implications of AI-generated content;
• Impact on creators, AI developers, and the copyright ecosystem.
The study also reviews the current EU legal framework on GenAI - including the Copyright in the Single Market Directive and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act - and addresses opt-out mechanisms, licensing agreements, transparency, detectability, potential revenue streams for creators, and ongoing legal disputes related to GenAI and IP.
To read the executive brief please click here. To read the full study, please click here.
The ECTA AI and Data Committee, with the support of other Committees, is closely following AI developments and their implications across various IPRs.
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