Illicit trade in counterfeit and pirated goods Goods that infringe trademarks, copyrights, patents or design rights. is a growing and significant problem. Globalisation opens up new opportunities for criminal networks to expand the scope and scale of their operations in illicit trade in such goods. These issues need to be addressed, as trade in fakes is a significant risk that undermines good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government, and can ultimately threaten political stability.