European Trademark Office Documents Steep Cost Of Counterfeits In Sport Industry

A new study released by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the European trademark office, measured the cost of intellectual property infringement in sport goods. According to the study, counterfeit in sport goods in the European Union causes a loss of revenue of some €500 million annually.

The study [pdf], released by OHIM through the EU Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, says that some 6.5 percent of sales are lost to counterfeiting in sport goods, and €500 million (US$560) of revenue is lost annually. Counterfeiting also costs 2,800 direct jobs, and the loss of some €150 million (US$168) in government revenue annually, it found.

The study covers the manufacture of sporting and athletic goods, such as golf clubs, footballs, skis, and tennis rackets.

“Every day, millions of people across the EU play and enjoy sport. However, very few of them know about the economic damage caused by counterfeit sports equipment in their own Member States, and across the EU as a whole,” OHIM President António Campinos said in a press release.

The study is the third in a series undertaken by OHIM on the economic impact of counterfeiting in industrial sectors in the EU. The first study [pdf] focused on the cosmetics and personal care sector, and the second study [pdf] on the clothing, footwear and accessories sector. According to the release, each report focuses on a sector known to be vulnerable to counterfeiting.

The Observatory’s aim is to assess the economic impact of counterfeiting and piracy. According to the study, “The biggest absolute impacts are found in France and Spain. These two countries account for one third of total EU lost sales due to counterfeiting,” while, the highest employment losses occur in Romania, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.

According to OHIM, other sectorial studies will be following, in particular on: medicines; tobacco; alcoholic beverages covering beer, wine and spirits; games and toys; jewellery and watches; handbags and luggage; and computers.

OHIM also indicated that the Observatory is working on a joint study with the Organisation for Cooperation and Development (OECD) to estimate the value of counterfeit goods in international trade, and on studies of infringement in the music, film and e-book industries with the support of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

OHIM Study on economic loss through fake sports equipment is a call for further action against counterfeits

The Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) in a press release said the study “is a wake-up call for further action against counterfeit sporting goods.” FESI Secretary General Alberto Bichi said, “This is a call for all parties involved to step-up the fight against fake sporting goods, e.g. through effective legislation combating the sale of fakes online and increased cooperation between public and private authorities.”

 

Image Credits: Flickr – Wojclech Kulickl