The European Commission has extended the deadline of its Public Consultation on the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List until 1 June 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic and the related new challenges and difficulties in gathering data.

The Public Consultation, launched on 19 February 2020, aims to identify online and physical marketplaces, located outside the European Union, that are reported to have engaged or facilitated substantial IPR infringements, in particular piracy and counterfeiting.

Infringements of intellectual property rights, especially commercial-scale counterfeiting and piracy, cause significant economic losses indeed for rightsholders and legitimate businesses as well as for those whose employment depends on such businesses. These kind of infringements undermine the European Union's comparative advantages in innovation and creativity to the detriment of EU citizens and pose significant risks to consumer health and safety, as well as to the environment. Moreover, IPR infringements, in particular counterfeiting and piracy, also seriously harm European business trading outside the European Union.

The European Commission, based on the input received from the stakeholders and after a verification of the information received, intends to publish an update of its “Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List” towards the end of 2020. This list will again identify and describe the most problematic marketplaces, with special focus on online marketplaces, in order to encourage their operators and owners, as well as the responsible local authorities and governments, to take the necessary actions and measures to reduce the availability of IPR infringing goods or services.

To access the survey of the European Commission, please click HERE

Written contributions may be submitted to the following mailbox: TRADE-COUNTERFEIT-AND-PIRACY-WATCH-LIST@ec.europa.eu

To know more on the Public Consultation, please consult the document HERE.