The summary of the counterfeiting and piracy study released today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) represents the most comprehensive and thorough investigation of the problem ever conducted, and a vital step towards a more complete understanding of the scope and harmful effects of this illegal activity, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) said.
“The OECD study confirms what industry has been saying all along – counterfeiting and piracy are not victimless crimes affecting only a few product categories and a few countries,” said Guy Sebban, Secretary General of ICC. “The OECD study shows that the magnitude of counterfeiting and piracy is huge, its impact is pervasive and the problem is growing.”
Counterfeit and pirated products are now for sale in virtually every country and affect every major product sector. The OECD study confirmed that consumers are increasingly put at risk of harm or even death from unsafe and ineffective counterfeit products including medicines, auto parts, electrical components and an array of other goods. These fakes are increasingly exported from one country to another. The hefty profits these phony goods generate have attracted organized crime and spawned the social ills these actors create.
See full Press Release.
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