In its annual review of markets that engage in or facilitate counterfeiting and piracy, the US Trade Representative has named 39 online markets (including many of Amazon’s foreign domains, Shopee and Taobao) and 34 physical markets. The European Commission published a similar list in its Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List in December 2020.
Both lists provide useful information on the challenges IP rights owners face in enforcing their rights in the various online marketplaces, and what improvements are needed.
Counterfeiting has become a particularly important IP issue over the last year as many enforcement programmes have been put on pause and online shopping has reached record highs. In January 2021, we touched on some of the EU's proposed solutions.
To find out more contact Rosie Burbidge, Intellectual Property Partner at Gunnercooke LLP in London - rosie.burbidge@gunnercooke.com