Trade in Counterfeit Goods and the Italian Economy
Protecting Italy's intellectual property
The Italian economy is innovative and rich in intellectual property (IP), with nearly every industry either producing or using IP. Italian IP-intensive industries are very well integrated in the global economy, through active participation in global value chains. At the same time, the threats of counterfeiting and piracy are growing – and Italy is vulnerable. This report measures the direct, economic effects of counterfeiting on Italian consumers, the Italian retail and manufacturing industry, and the Italian governments. It examines both the impact that the imports of fake products to Italy has on these three groups and the impact on the Italian intellectual property rights holders of the global trade in fake products that infringe their IP rights.
Also available in: Italian
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Gauging the scale and effects of counterfeiting and piracy
This chapter lays the methodological groundwork for the study. It places in both quantitative and relative perspective the reliance of the Italian economy on IP, as well as the considerable damage caused by infringement. It goes on to introduce two distinctions: that between counterfeit products smuggled into Italy and IPR infringements on Italian right holders; and that between primary and secondary markets for counterfeit and pirated goods. The chapter concludes by outlining the seven categories of effects of this illicit trade, each of which will be examined in detail in the discussion that follows.
Also available in: Italian
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Click to download PDF - 3.67MBPDF