Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Report" ("Report") has been published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's ("OECD") and European Intellectual Property Office ("EUIPO"). The Report gives statistics regarding global counterfeiting activities, as well as ranking the most affected countries and industries during the period of 2014-2016. Turkey is ranked as the fourth biggest provenance economy for counterfeit and pirated goods in this report, while it was ranked as the third in previous report based on the info of 2011-2013.

The Report is based on studies of international trade statics and customs seizures of infringing products between 2014 and 2016. It addresses infringement of trademarks, designs, patents, and copyrights. The figures do not include domestically produced and consumed fake goods, or pirated products distributed via the Internet.

The Report states that the value of imported fake goods worldwide based on 2016 customs seizure data is USD 509 billion. Trade in counterfeit goods represents 3.3% of world trade and has increased compared to previous years. The products making up the most significant share of 2016 seizures were footwear, clothing, and leather goods.

Noteworthy points about Turkey in the Report are as follows:

  • Turkey appears to be a significant producer of leather goods, foodstuffs, and cosmetics.
  • Turkey is noted as the third biggest provenance economy regarding the seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods following China and Hong Kong.
  • Turkey is the fourth biggest provenance economy for counterfeit and pirated goods between 2014 and 2016. Previously in 2011 to 2013 it was the third biggest economy, but it has been replaced by United Arab Emirates.
  • Turkey ranks sixth in terms of its propensity to export counterfeit products. The tendency is calculated, taking into account the share of exports of counterfeit and pirated products in the trade of that economy. In the previous Report, Turkey was ranked third following Hong Kong and China, but the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Pakistan have more propensity in the current Report.
  • Turkey is the third biggest provenance economy of counterfeit goods entering the European Union.

The Report shows that countries like the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Pakistan have increased their propensity to trade in counterfeit and pirated goods. Besides, the manufacture and export of counterfeit products has increased compared to previous years in Turkey. Turkey keeps being one of the most important economies regarding counterfeit and pirated goods due to the presence on major trade routes.

Please see this  link for the full text of Report.

Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.

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