The Ukrainian Intellectual Property Rights Infringement Monitoring Center has presented the study “Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights in the E-Commerce Sector”.
Online platforms (online stores and marketplaces) are increasingly influencing the development of e-commerce by shaping new rules for the sale, delivery, and consumption of goods. They create advantages for both businesses and consumers alike – from quick purchases to access to a wide range of products and new delivery methods.
However, these very advantages have also become vulnerable points exploited for the distribution of counterfeit goods and widespread infringements of intellectual property rights.
Therefore, the Intellectual Property Rights Infringement Monitoring Center, operating under the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO), has presented a comprehensive study:
The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of current challenges related to the infringement of intellectual property rights in the digital environment, as well as to examine the effectiveness of existing legal protection mechanisms at both the national and international levels.
Did you know that, according to the EUIPO report “Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment” (2022), more than 70% of counterfeit cosmetics and perfumes reaching consumers are distributed via online platforms? In Ukraine, this trend is reinforced by limited oversight of sellers, the absence of strict requirements for verifying the origin of goods, and insufficient transparency in moderation procedures.
Trade in counterfeits through e-commerce remains one of the largest and most concerning channels of intellectual property rights infringement worldwide. According to the joint OECD and EUIPO report “Mapping Global Trade in Fakes 2025”, the volume of illegal trade in counterfeit goods in 2021 amounted to approximately USD 500 billion, which represents around 2.3% of global imports.
The study document consists of 7 sections, each of which includes a number of subsections:
1. Introduction – justifies the relevance of the issue, outlines the purpose, objectives, methodology, and key concepts of the study.
2. E-commerce as an environment for IP infringements – analyzes the specifics of online trade and the types of platforms where IP rights infringements are recorded.
3. Main mechanisms of platform abuse – describes common methods of counterfeit distribution, abuse of delivery services, use of social media, and fraudulent networks.
4. Types of risks and consequences of infringements – identifies economic, social, and reputational risks, as well as consequences for rightsholders, consumers, and the state.
5. Reaction of institutions and platforms – analyzes international practices, national legislation, and policies of major platforms regarding intellectual property rights protection.
6. IP rights protection tools – covers administrative, judicial, extrajudicial, technological, educational, and other mechanisms to combat infringements.
7. Conclusions and recommendations – summarizes the study results and formulates proposals for online platforms, state authorities, and rightsholders.
The study will be useful for:
In turn, the recommendations set forth in the document are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of intellectual property rights protection and promoting responsible e-commerce development in Ukraine.
See also:
UANIPIO conducted a training course for representatives of the State Customs Service of Ukraine
No Comments