The European Commission recently unveiled the EU toolbox against counterfeiting, a comprehensive plan aimed at fortifying the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) both online and offline.
This initiative seeks to enhance collaboration among rights holders, service providers, and law enforcement agencies through the adoption of modern tools and technologies.
The strategy encompasses a variety of measures aimed at addressing the growing concerns over counterfeiting and piracy that significantly impact the EU’s economy and job market. The measures include the establishment of a single contact point for IP enforcement and the encouragement of ‘trusted flagger status’ under the Digital Services Act to prioritise the flagging of illegal content.
Additionally, the toolbox proposes adjustments to tackle new counterfeiting tactics, the promotion of alternative dispute resolution for IP disputes, and the empowerment of market surveillance authorities.
This initiative focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by offering reimbursements for initial IP enforcement advice and developing a Cybertheft Prevention Toolkit.
The effectiveness of these measures will be evaluated in three years, considering technological advancements and the outcomes of ongoing enforcement studies.
The Commission’s recommendation on measures to combat counterfeiting and enhance the enforcement of intellectual property rights can be downloaded here.
