German Anti-Counterfeiting Association

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25.11.2025: APM PRESS RELEASE

High risks from counterfeit goods on Black Friday. more

01.10.2025: EU IP Enforcement Statistics

EU Commission and EUIPO publish statistics on the enforcement of intellectual property rights at the EU's external borders and in the internal market for the year 2024. more / APM press release

05.06.2025: APM Press Release

World Anti-Counterfeiting day 2025 - The fight against product and brand piracy is a task for society as a whole. more

04.06.2025: German Customs Statistics for 2024

Customs has published its annual balance sheet for 2024: in a total of almost 17,000 seizures, more than 5 million counterfeits worth around 417 million euros were withdrawn from circulation. more

22.05.2025: Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List

The EU Commission has published the latest edition of its Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List.

06.05.2025: New Study: Mapping Global Trade in Fakes 2025

The OECD and the EUIPO have published the latest edition of their study on global trade in counterfeits. According to the study, trade in counterfeit products accounted for around 2.3% of global trade in 2021, which corresponds to a trade volume of around USD 467 billion. more

24.04.2025: APM Press Release

Intellectual Property Day. There is a need for further action. more

November 19th and 20th, 2025:

“Customs Round Table”

Catching
counterfeits

Most counterfeit items are found in postal traffic. Most of the consignments originate from online trading.

(Source: German customs statistics)

In %

Consequences of product and brand piracy

Loss of sales
Damage to the brand
Unjustified warranty claims / claims for damages
Job losses
Lost tax revenue
Risks for consumers
Staatl. and private costs for combating product piracy

Damage in the millions

The value of counterfeits confiscated in Germany amounts to several hundred million euros every year.

(Source: German customs statistics)

Product piracy has many faces – Health risks, quality defects, disappointed expectations.

"Product piracy is life-threatening when spare parts for cars or airplanes are counterfeited. Product piracy destroys jobs when companies lose their sales markets. Quality and value work deserve our protection. To this end, the Action Circle makes its meaningful contribution."

"The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) works in the interest of its customers through numerous cooperations worldwide to ensure that the value of intellectual property is appreciated and innovations are effectively protected. The APM pursues the same goals with crowd-pleasing and demonstrative activities that complement our actions well."

"We must preserve and protect prosperity and well-paying, secure jobs. Product and brand piracy pose a threat to the future of work."