New Report: Italian Law Enforcement Seized 542 Million Counterfeit Articles Over 10 Years

Italian law enforcement seized 542 million articles of counterfeit goods, with an estimated value of more than €5.5 billion from 2008 to 2018, according to a new report from the Italian Trademark and Patent Office.

The report titled “Intellectual Property-Elaborated Report of the Investigation on Counterfeiting (IPERICO),” covers the results of investigation activities carried out by various enforcement authorities in Italy, such as the Guardia di Finanza, the Carabinieri, and the state and local police. It details the number and value of items seized during the 10-year period, grouped by geographical area and product category. The analysis excludes food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco.

In 2018 alone, there was a total of 12,712 seizures, a decrease of 7 percent, compared to 2017. However, the number of articles seized rose 66 percent, to a total of 52.7 million.

Some interesting statistics during the 10-year period include:

• Between 2008 and 2018, Customs and the Guardia di Finanza seized around 542 million articles   of counterfeit goods, with an estimated value of more than   €5.5 billion;
• The sectors with the most seizures during the 10-year period were clothing (55% of total); footwear (12.5% of total); and watches and jewelry (8.5% of total); and
• The regions with the highest seizures during the 10-year period were Lombardy (Milan); Lazio (Rome); and Campania, Naples.

To read the full report (in Italian only), click here.

For more information on INTA’s anticounterfeiting activities in Italy, please contact Maysa Razavi, INTA Manager, Anticounterfeiting, at [email protected].