To celebrate the importance of design in the EU, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the EU’s largest intellectual property agency, is today announcing the first edition of the Design Europa Awards.

€500 million lost every year throughout the EU due to fake sports equipment
The sale of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs legitimate EU manufacturers €500 million every year.
A new study from the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the EU’s largest intellectual property agency, shows that the sales lost due to counterfeiting of sports equipment – not including sportswear – correspond to 6.5% of all sales in this sector across the EU-28.
The study also shows that approximately 2,800 jobs are lost in this sector throughout the EU, as manufacturers sell less than they would have done in the absence of counterfeiting, and therefore employ fewer people.
Every year, an additional €360 million is lost across the EU due to the indirect effects of counterfeiting of sports equipment – as manufacturers buy fewer goods and services from suppliers, causing knock-on effects in other areas.
Today’s report, released by OHIM through the EU Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights,  also shows that up to €150 million is lost annually in government revenue throughout the EU due to this type of counterfeiting. This includes tax, social contributions and VAT which are not paid by producers and distributors of fakes.
The President of OHIM, António Campinos, said:
“Every day, millions of people across the EU play and enjoy sport. However, very few of them know about the economic damage caused by counterfeit sports equipment in their own Member States, and across the EU as a whole. With this series of reports, we are investigating the effects of counterfeits in terms of lost revenue and jobs, sector by sector, to provide a complete picture for policy makers and EU citizens.”
Today’s report is the third in a series of studies undertaken by OHIM into the economic impact of counterfeiting in industrial sectors in the EU, in terms of job and revenue losses. In July, a report into the economic impact of fake clothes, shoes and accessories (including fake sportswear) was released, while in March, OHIM published the first study in this series, into the economic impact of fake cosmetics and personal care items. Each report centres on a sector known to be vulnerable to counterfeiting.
In the UK:  The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, golf balls and clubs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €50 million every year.
In France: France produces 15% of the total EU sports goods production (€800 million) each year. The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €82million every year.
In Germany: Germany is the second largest producer of sports goods in the EU, accounting for around 20% of total EU production (€1 billion each year). The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €44 million every year.
In Italy: Italy is the primary producer of sports goods in the EU, accounting for more than 20% of total EU production (€1.2 billion) each year. The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €53 million every year.
In Spain: The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €76 million every year.

"Get involved in "Ideas Powered" and have a say on intellectual property"
The first EU-wide interactive website dedicated to young people and intellectual property (IP) is launched today.
The Ideas Powered site is supported by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), acting through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights.
The site brings together contributions from young designers, composers, entrepreneurs and artists from all across the EU to show how IP underpins and supports innovation and creativity. Ideas Powered website also includes a video competition which invites young people to submit their views on how intellectual property matters to them.
Today's release follows on from a 2013 study carried out by OHIM into how EU citizens – including young people – perceive intellectual property. The results showed that eight out of ten 15-24 year olds in the EU believe that buying counterfeit products has a negative economic effect, and two thirds agree that illegal downloading is a threat to the economy and jobs.
However, 50% still justify buying counterfeits as an act of protest or a smart purchase and 57% think illegally accessing copyright-protected content for personal use is acceptable.
The President of OHIM, António Campinos, said: "This website follows on from our 2013 study, and builds on its results. It aims to provide a fresh outlook on IP – it features contributions from young Europeans who use IP to support their businesses, their livelihoods, their hobbies and their interests. The website is a two way portal; we'll be seeking the views of young people on all aspects of IP in their lives and inviting their contributions too."
The Ideas Powered website is supported by a Facebook and a Twitter account.

Over €26 billion and up to 363,000 jobs lost every year in the EU due to counterfeiting of clothes, shoes and accessories
The manufacture and distribution of fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, belts and gloves) takes over €26 billion every year from legitimate EU businesses.
A new study from the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the EU’s intellectual property agency, shows that the sale of fake clothes, shoes and accessories in the EU equals nearly 10% of the total sales in the sector throughout the EU-28.
That lost revenue translates into 363,000 lost jobs, as the legitimate manufacturers and retailers make and sell less than they would have done in the absence of counterfeiting, and therefore employs fewer workers.
The study, released through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, entrusted to OHIM, also assesses the indirect effect of the counterfeit trade.
When the knock-on effects on suppliers are taken into account, legitimate businesses across the EU lose €43.3 billion of sales revenue because of counterfeiting, with around 518,000 jobs lost.
Since producers and sellers of fakes do not pay tax, social contributions and VAT, over €8 billion of government revenue across the EU-28 is not collected.
The President of OHIM, António Campinos, said:
“With this report we can put a figure on the economic impact of counterfeiting, and its consequences in terms of lost revenue and jobs at EU level in the clothing, shoes and accessories sector. These results will not only help policy makers in their work, they will also help consumers make more informed choices.”
Today’s report is part of a series of studies into the economic impact of counterfeiting in a number of sectors across the EU, which will be released over the coming months.
In the UK: The trade in fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, and belts) costs UK manufacturers, retailers and distributors around ₤2.6 billion (€3.6 billion) in lost sales every year and 40,000 jobs.
In France: The trade in fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, and belts) costs French manufacturers, retailers and distributors around €3.5 billion in lost sales and over 25,000 jobs lost (36,000 if indirect effects are added).
In Germany: The trade in fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, and belts) costs German manufacturers, retailers and distributors around €3.5 billion in lost sales and over 40,000 jobs lost (over 52,000 if indirect effects are added).
In Italy: The trade in fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, and belts) costs Italian manufacturers, retailers and distributors around €4.5 billion in lost sales and over 50,000 jobs lost (80,000 if indirect effects are added).
In Spain: The trade in fake clothes, shoes and accessories (like ties, scarves, and belts) means that over 50,000 jobs are lost, which account for nearly 14% of the employment in the sector.

New study finds that companies owning Intellectual Property rights outshine their competitors in economic performancе
Companies owning intellectual property rights (IPRs) have, in general, 29% higher revenue per employee, about six times as many employees and pay wages that are up to 20% higher than firms which do not own IPRs.
These are the main findings of a study carried out by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) acting through the EU Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights.
The study, which is based on official public financial data from more than 2.3 million European firms, covers companies which own patents, trade marks and designs at both national and EU level.
One of the key findings in the study is that a modest share of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe own patents, trade marks or designs. It also finds that those SMEs which own such rights have almost 32% higher revenue per employee – a significantly higher economic performance, showing significant relative benefits associated with the ownership of IPRs. SMEs are companies which employ fewer than 250 people and which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro.
António Campinos, President of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) said: “SMEs are the backbone of the EU economy, and our study shows that IP rights are an economic asset for them. With the creation of its free, global, online trade mark and design databases (TMview and DesignView), OHIM has already made IPR searches available for millions of firms and individuals. This study, however, shows that we need to do more to promote the economic advantages of IP among SMEs, who benefit from it the most. Our aim is to help SMEs to fully explore the economic potential of their IPR.”
This report, which looks at the contribution of IPRs at a company level, is a follow-up to a first EU-wide analysis of the contribution of IPR intensive industries to economic performance and employment in the European Union.

New report: Intellectual property rights and firm performance in Europe: an economic analysis.


Bulgarian Patent Office prepares to implement e-filing of trade marks and designs applications
Experts from the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) visited the Bulgarian Patent Office during the period 14-16 May 2013.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss the specific requirements of the national legislation on trade marks and designs in order to implement electronic filing of both industrial property objects.
OHIM in cooperation with the European national offices for trade marks and design works on the creation of e-services projects, which are part of the Cooperation Fund, providing € 50 million for the development and implementation of 23 projects.
Projects relating to e-filing of trade marks and designs are planned to be implemented in the Bulgarian Patent Office by the end of 2013.
A development of projects for electronic renewal, electronic filing of oppositions and requests for revocation and invalidity is foreseen.
Implementation of e-services projects will simplify the access to applying of trade marks and designs and subsequent proceedings for the users of the systems and will improve the quality of administrative services by optimizing and streamlining the procedures.
Users will be able to use the systems for electronic services through the website of the Bulgarian Patent Office without the need for electronic signature.
During the workshop, experts from both offices discussed the process of applying for trade marks and designs and developed specific requirements for the purpose of adapting the software to the Bulgarian legislation.
                                                                                                                                                      

The sale of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs legitimate EU manufacturers €500 million every year.
A new study from the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the EU’s largest intellectual property agency, shows that the sales lost due to counterfeiting of sports equipment – not including sportswear – correspond to 6.5% of all sales in this sector across the EU-28.

The study also shows that approximately 2,800 jobs are lost in this sector throughout the EU, as manufacturers sell less than they would have done in the absence of counterfeiting, and therefore employ fewer people.
Every year, an additional €360 million is lost across the EU due to the indirect effects of counterfeiting of sports equipment – as manufacturers buy fewer goods and services from suppliers, causing knock-on effects in other areas.
Today’s report, released by OHIM through the EU Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights,  also shows that up to €150 million is lost annually in government revenue throughout the EU due to this type of counterfeiting. This includes tax, social contributions and VAT which are not paid by producers and distributors of fakes.
The President of OHIM, António Campinos, said:
“Every day, millions of people across the EU play and enjoy sport. However, very few of them know about the economic damage caused by counterfeit sports equipment in their own Member States, and across the EU as a whole. With this series of reports, we are investigating the effects of counterfeits in terms of lost revenue and jobs, sector by sector, to provide a complete picture for policy makers and EU citizens.”
Today’s report is the third in a series of studies undertaken by OHIM into the economic impact of counterfeiting in industrial sectors in the EU, in terms of job and revenue losses. In July, a report into the economic impact of fake clothes, shoes and accessories (including fake sportswear) was released, while in March, OHIM published the first study in this series, into the economic impact of fake cosmetics and personal care items. Each report centres on a sector known to be vulnerable to counterfeiting.
In the UK:  The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, golf balls and clubs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €50 million every year.
In France: France produces 15% of the total EU sports goods production (€800 million) each year. The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €82million every year.
In Germany: Germany is the second largest producer of sports goods in the EU, accounting for around 20% of total EU production (€1 billion each year). The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €44 million every year.
In Italy: Italy is the primary producer of sports goods in the EU, accounting for more than 20% of total EU production (€1.2 billion) each year. The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €53 million every year.
In Spain: The manufacture of fake sports equipment, like footballs, sports helmets, tennis rackets, skis, gym equipment and skateboards, costs the sector €76 million every year.