The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) have published a joint report revealing that more than 196 million counterfeit items, worth an estimated €6.3 billion, were detained at the EU border and within the EU internal market in 2025.
The report, EU Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Results at the EU Border and in the EU Internal Market 2025, provides an overview of enforcement activities carried out by customs, police and market surveillance authorities. The findings highlight the scale of counterfeiting across Europe and the importance of effective intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in supporting innovation and competitiveness.
The number of counterfeit items detained in 2025 represents the highest level recorded, increasing by 67% compared with 2024 and exceeding the previous record set in 2023 by 29%. This increase was largely driven by detentions within the EU internal market.
Among the most frequently detained products were recorded CDs/DVDs, toys, labels and stickers, cigarettes, games and clothing, together accounting for almost 75% of all detained items. Trade marks were the most frequently infringed IP rights among detained goods (57%), followed by copyright (43%) and designs (7%).
Counterfeiting can undermine the commercial potential of innovative products, weaken competitive advantages and reduce the returns associated with investment in research, product development and brand creation. For SMEs, start-ups and research-based ventures seeking to introduce new technologies or products to the market, effective IP management and enforcement can therefore be important elements of a sustainable exploitation strategy.
The report also illustrates the growing complexity of IP enforcement in an increasingly interconnected market. The expansion of e-commerce, fragmented supply chains and diverse distribution channels create additional challenges for identifying and intercepting counterfeit goods, reinforcing the need for cooperation between rights holders, enforcement authorities and other stakeholders.
The findings reinforce the importance of considering IP enforcement as part of a broader intellectual asset management and commercialisation strategy. Protecting research results through patents, trade marks, designs or copyright is an important step, but maintaining their value also requires awareness of potential infringement risks and access to appropriate enforcement mechanisms.