The European Commission has published the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List 2020 to make public websites, e-commerce platforms, online pharmacies and physical marketplaces in the third countries of the European Union that are reported to engage in, facilitate or benefit from trade in counterfeit or pirated products.

The main objectives of this publication are on the one hand, to encourage operators and intermediaries of these marketplaces to refrain from participating in IP infringing trade, and on the other hand, to raise awareness among EU citizens on the risk of purchasing counterfeit goods from these markets/platforms.

The list aims to encourage operators of these marketplaces, local enforcement authorities and also governments to take action to combat infringements of intellectual property rights of EU companies and creators.

The list was created in cooperation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Europol, the data being obtained following a public consultation process. Over 70 brand owners, copyright holders and other organizations reported the illicit activities in several marketplaces from across the globe. This is the second time that the European Commission has published the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List, the first publication being made in 2018.

In this publication you can find such trading platforms, as Music-bazaar.com or Rlsbb - Rlsbb.ru or drug trading platforms, such as EVA Pharmacy, PharmCash. There are also off-line markets, such as the Silk Market in Beijing or the 7th km Market in Odessa. The Republic of Moldova is not on this list.

Intellectual property infringements are a scourge on the European economy, decreasing investment and government revenues and leading to job losses in creative and innovative industries. The link between counterfeiting and organized crime poses a major threat to society. This Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List is part of the EU authorities’ effort to ensure that European companies can operate on a level playing field when trading outside EU’s borders, as well as that EU consumers are safe.

In the European Union, counterfeit and pirated products amount to an estimated 5% of all imports or as much as €85 billion a year. Counterfeiting and piracy lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs each year and pose a threat to human health. From DVDs and CDs, shampoo, drugs and electrical equipment, any product, in any industry, is vulnerable.

The Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List can be found here: https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2020/december/tradoc_159183.pdf