If you get caught in possession of counterfeit goods and that means storing them, transporting them or selling them, at best you will be cautioned and you may be arrested.

Brand Owners have the right to seize goods if they suspect them to be illegal copies. In the same way Customs have authority to seize and secure suspect goods for a period of time so that their authenticity can be established. Since most counterfeit goods travel under false documentation then those in charge also face the threat of forgery and fraud.

What are the penalties - There are a variety of penalties available to the courts to apply on conviction. This can involve heavy fines, damages and imprisonment. The EU is at present ‘harmonising’ its intellectual property laws so that penalties will be similar in all member states.

 

Such systems will ensure in future that criminal records are transferable from state to state so if you are sentenced for IP crimes all states will have a record of it should you offend in another state later.