The European Commission has recently published two reports highlighting the role of the industry-led Memoranda of Understanding in tackling online counterfeiting and preventing the advertising infringing IPRs.

In particular, the REPORT on the 2011 Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet highlights the cooperation on the removal of counterfeit goods from the virtual marketplace and provides an overview of the reported practices to tackle the online counterfeiting.

The REPORT on the 2018 Memorandum of understanding on online advertising and IPRs unveils that the MoU made brands more aware that their ads may end up on IPR infringing websites. Signatories have exchanged expertise and good practices in the use of technology to monitor the placement of ads, as well as the adjustment of contractual arrangements to reduce piracy.

The Commission hopes that these reports will stimulate further and better cooperation of the signatories within the MoUs and that the respective findings of these reports will also feed into the on-going consultation on the Digital Services Act and contribute to developing new initiatives to fight IP theft.