Also in the context of the World Intellectual Property Day on 04/26/2021, increased product counterfeiting through online trade is in the spotlight. This is because the Corona pandemic has given a particular boost to one distribution structure: that of Internet commerce. Recurring regulations on exit restrictions and store closures led to a veritable e-commerce boom. What is problematic about this is the enormous growth in product and brand counterfeiting.
In times of Corona and increased online trade, counterfeiters have an easy game. They distribute counterfeit products precisely through this distribution channel. The range of counterfeits is huge and does not stop at any product category. It ranges from technical devices to clothing and lifestyle products. Counterfeiting is particularly dramatic for products in a safety-relevant context, such as medical devices or medications. Studies show that EU imports of counterfeit products have been growing rapidly for several years, particularly as a result of online trade. Overall, the value of imports of counterfeit products into the EU already rose to 121 billion euros in 2016. This corresponds to Europe-wide sales losses of around 7.4%. On the occasion of International Intellectual Property Day, the Markenverband also reports on the growth of counterfeiting in times of Corona due to internet trade ( reed more).
The big problem is that it is often difficult for customers to distinguish between originals and counterfeits when buying online. That's why many companies are already using SecIdent for unique and secure product identification.