Overview of counterfeiting and piracy
Innovative achievements and creative work are readily copied and misused. Intellectual property law provides effective protection against this.
It distinguishes between counterfeiting and piracy.
- A counterfeit is an unauthorised imitation of an original product, such as a branded watch. Counterfeiters attempt to copy the features, materials or appearance of a legally protected product. Their aim is to profit from its good reputation, which is based on a trade mark, an indication of source (such as ‘Swiss Made’), a design or a patent.
- If works such as films, musical compositions, books or pictures are used without a licence, this is known as piracy. This offence breaches the law on copyright and related rights.
Counterfeiting and piracy are a cross-sector problem that affects many Swiss companies. It is not only large corporations that are harmed, but also countless small and medium-sized enterprises that have worked hard to earn their place in the market thanks to their innovation and creativity.
