Guide to Develop a Top-Notch Brand Protection Strategy
Learn how to protect your brand from counterfeiters with a comprehensive strategy. This guide covers practical steps to protect your brand.
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The fakes you see are just the tip of the iceberg.
We offer an anti-counterfeiting solution that aggressively combats the sale of counterfeit goods with an outstanding track record. It includes special AI software, a team of experts, and a vast network of investigators and specialists worldwide.
It allows you to completely erase the problem of counterfeiting from your mind without allocating any resources on your part.
Products We Protect
Our solution is designed to protect any physical goods sold to individuals and companies globally, including:
Fashion and Apparel
Clothing, footwear, bags, underwear, accessories, etc.
Consumer Electronics
Smartphones, laptops, headphones, speakers, drones, cameras, TVs, etc.
Pharmaceuticals
Drugs, medical devices, eye care products, supplements, etc.
Luxury Goods
Watches, pens, perfumes, leather goods, sunglasses, accessories, etc
Beauty Products
Cosmetics, skincare, grooming, bath and body products, etc
Food and Beverages
Snacks, sweets, sauces and condiments, baked goods, etc.
Jewelry
Rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, etc.
Toys
Board games, dolls, puzzles, video games, building sets, outdoor, etc.
and more!
Other types of goods that might be affected by product piracy
Threats We Protect You Against
We protect your brand from all types of product piracy. The most common types of infringement include the following:
Counterfeits and replicas
fakes that are intentionally produced and sold as a copy of your brand.
Copyright infringements
use of your photos, videos or any other assets without your permission
Design infringements
reproduction of a protected design or look of your brand
Parallel import or grey sale
importing goods from a foreign country for resale without your permission
Patent infringements
unauthorized use of your invention, technology or product.
Trade dress or brand abuse
unauthorized use of your brand name, trademark, logo or look and feel
Trademark infringements
use of a trademark that is the same or similar to your registered trademark.
Scam and impersonalisation
if someone pretends to be you or provides false information.
Platforms We Cover
Detecting counterfeit products worldwide, at all types of platforms. If we couldn't find an IP infringement - it means that it just does not exist.
Marketplaces
Search Engines
Video Platforms
File-sharing Apps
Social Media
Paid Search
E-commerce Apps
Online Stores
Websites
Ad Networks
Cyberlockers
Auction Apps
Domains
Mobile Apps
Messengers
Dark Web
How It Works
Four comprehensive steps for complete product protection that run seamlessly in the background without requiring your attention.
1.
Find
Continuously monitor and collect suspicious listings from all over the internet.
2.
Analyze
Evaluate detected infringements, gather evidence and prepare enforcement strategy.
3.
Act
Remove violations and prevent sellers from the ability to infringe your IP in the future.
4.
Report
Update the database, so you can easily track progress using real-time dashboards.
Spotting Counterfeits
Anywhere
We use cutting-edge technologies to reveal counterfeits worldwide, leaving offenders no chance to hide.
Smart Crawler
collects and transforms data into actionable intelligence
Image Recognition
identifies logos, similar products, colour patterns and shapes
VPN & Proxy Network
simulates real customers from various countries
Risk Assessment by AI
analyzes data and measures risk to reveal infringements
Prioritization Algorithm
keeps focus on the most harmful infringements first
Continuous Monitoring
to detect and remove fakes before they will be sold
Blocking Offenders Without Mercy
Our strategy for termination is tailored to each specific case, considering the source, type of violation, and platform’s cooperation level.
Our enforcement actions:
Warning letters
Take down website
Remove listings
Delete apps
Ban sellers
Cut off payment options
Remove web pages
Exclude from search engines
Delete paid ads
Cease and desist letters
DMCA removals
Collaborate with law agencies
and more!
If necessary, we can also involve investigators or conduct test purchases to gather evidence and take appropriate action successfully and efficiently.
Reports That Deserve Your Attention
We keep you in the loop like no one else with comprehensive reports, customized dashboards, databases, and summaries delivered to your inbox.
Infringements Database
We store more than 25 fields of data about every infringement
Custom Made Dashboard
We add metrics and KPIs that are important to you
Monthly Summaries
Key numbers, insights and takeaways delivered to your inbox
One-Stop Brand Protection Solution
A comprehensive approach to protecting your brand, covering all aspects from identifying and taking down online infringements, to conducting investigations and test purchases.
No Need to Allocate Resources
Lightning-fast Results
Trusted by Top Brands
Global Coverage
24/7 Software Monitoring
Dedicated Team
End-To-End Solution
10k+
Enforcements per Month
<28h
Avg. Takedown Time
98%
Removal Success Ratio
70+
Countries Covered
Real-time Protection
Data Intelligence
Global Partnerships
How Counterfeits Harm Your Business?
The consequences of intellectual property infringement have devastating effects on business:
Is your brand affected by product piracy?
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about counterfeiting. Gain a better understanding of the topic and find out if it is relevant to your business.
1. What is anti-counterfeiting and why is it important?
Anti-counterfeiting is a measure aimed at combating replicas, fakes, counterfeits, and imitations of genuine products and preventing their proliferation in the future.
This is important because counterfeit goods significantly threaten consumers, businesses, and the economy.
Counterfeiting can lead to loss of profit for legitimate businesses, damage brand reputation, and even be dangerous to consumers if the counterfeit products are of poor quality or dangerous.
2. How does counterfeiting impact business?
The consequences of counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement are devastating:
-
Loss of sales:
a counterfeiter offers customers a copy of your product at a lower price -
Damaging authentic brands’ reputation:
customers do not know that the product they are holding in their hands is fake -
Overproduction costs:
genuine products remain unsold because market demand has been satisfied by counterfeits -
Fraudulent product warranty claims:
the counterfeit product breaks down, and customers demand that the actual business pay for the costs -
Harming the trust between businesses:
distributors, retailers, and other partners often lose confidence in legitimate businesses -
Product liability claims:
receiving lawsuits for putting a defective product in the hands of consumers
...and after that, authentic companies have to deal with the fallout of counterfeits
3. Is counterfeiting a significant issue?
Intellectual property infringement and counterfeiting are widespread problems affecting many companies and brands worldwide.
Key insights:
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The number of counterfeits is growing and exceeds USD 3 trillion (3% of total global trade)
-
Every 4th product sold is a fake
-
9 out of 10 counterfeits are sold online
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81% of buyers do not know they are buying counterfeits
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Losses from counterfeiting amounted to $53 billion in 2020
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Every year, the number of counterfeits sold has been growing by about 20% over the past five years.
The growth of e-commerce and the increased availability of counterfeit goods online have made it easier for infringers to damage companies' reputations and profitability. The extent of the problem may vary depending on the size and industry of the company. All companies must take proactive measures to protect their intellectual property and brand.
4. Which companies are at risk of counterfeiting and IP violations?
Piracy affects a wide range of companies, especially those selling physical goods.
According to our research, the most affected industries are:
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Luxury goods and Jewelry
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Fashion and Apparel
-
Sporting goods
-
Consumer electronics
-
Cosmetics
-
Toys
-
Pharmaceuticals
These industries are commonly targeted for piracy due to their high product value and brand recognition.
However, any company with a valuable product or intellectual property can be affected by piracy, regardless of its size or industry.
5. What are the most common infringements companies are affected by?
The most common types of violations are:
-
Counterfeiting
-
Infringement of trademark rights
-
Infringement of patent rights
-
Copyright infringement
-
Parallel import or grey sale
These violations can significantly damage a company's brand and financial success.
6. How much money do companies lose due to counterfeiting?
Brand counterfeiting and misuse cost companies billions of dollars in losses every year.
The exact amount is difficult to determine due to these activities illegal and underground nature. Still, the International Trademark Association (INTA) estimates it is in the hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide yearly.
We know of cases where companies have lost 50% of their annual profits due to counterfeiting.
This includes losses in revenue, profits, market share, enforcement, and legal costs.
7. How to determine if my company is affected by product piracy?
The best and easiest way for you to do this is to contact us. We will perform a software scan to check if you are affected and assess the extent of the problem.
It's completely free of charge.
You can fill out this form or simply book a demo session with one of our brand protection experts.
8. How the anti-counterfeiting solution works?
Here's how it generally works:
-
Monitoring:
We continuously monitor various channels, including the marketplaces, websites, mobile apps and social media, to detect and identify intellectual property infringements. -
Investigations and test purchases:
We conduct investigations and test assets to verify suspicious sellers, collect evidence, identify key infringers, and build legal cases. -
Enforcement:
Legal action against infringers, such as sending warning letters, taking down certain webpages offline, blocking payment methods, and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. -
Customer support:
Providing support to customer service and clients affected by intellectual property infringement, such as helping to identify counterfeit products and reporting incidents to the appropriate authorities. -
Training and education:
Providing training and education to companies and their employees to raise awareness of the importance of IP protection and how to prevent infringement. -
Reporting:
Update the client database and dashboards, and send monthly reports and analytical materials. It allows you to easily track the progress and ROI of your brand protection activities.
Let us recover your lost revenue, safeguard your reputation and reduce your overall exposure to IP infringements.
Schedule a demo with us - we’ll show you how everything works and answer your questions.
9. How do I choose the right anti-counterfeiting solution?
Consider the following factors:
-
Product type: The solution you choose should be tailored to the product you sell. For example, a solution that works well for luxury goods may be less effective for pharmaceuticals.
-
Technologies: Look for a solution that uses the latest technology, such as machine learning, image recognition, and big data analytics, to detect and reveal hidden counterfeits fast.
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Enforcement: Choose a solution that detects counterfeits and has a system in place to take action against them. This can include cease-and-desist letters, takedown notices, or other legal measures that efficiently eliminate detected infringements.
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Customization: Every business is unique, so choosing an anti-counterfeiting solution that can be customized to meet your specific needs and requirements is essential.
-
Cost: The cost of anti-counterfeiting solutions can vary greatly depending on the technology used and the level of customization required. When choosing a solution, it is essential to consider both the initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs.
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Reporting: An anti-counterfeiting solution should provide comprehensive reports and analytics to help you understand the problem's scope, track the solution's effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement. Look for a solution that offers real-time monitoring and reporting, customizable dashboards, and detailed data analysis.
-
Coverage: Make sure the solution provides a vast list of supported online platforms (like marketplaces, social media platforms, mobile apps, etc.) and works worldwide without any limitations.
Considering these factors, you can choose an anti-counterfeiting solution to safeguard your reputation, protect your revenue, and reduce your overall exposure to IP infringements.
10. What kind of platforms and countries you cover?
We can literally cover the entire Internet and working worldwide.
Here is what we cover:
-
Marketplaces: like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba, where counterfeit goods are often sold.
-
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms where counterfeiters can advertise and sell fake products.
-
Online advertising networks: including Google AdWords and other advertising networks, where counterfeiters can advertise counterfeit products.
-
Domains: counterfeiters can register domain names that look like a company's trademarks.
-
Search engines: such as Google and Bing, where counterfeiters can try to get their websites ranked higher than the legitimate brand's site.
-
Paid search: including paid search ads on search engines and other advertising networks where counterfeiters can advertise counterfeit products.
-
Mobile applications: app stores and standalone applications where counterfeiters can sell counterfeit products or offer unlicensed digital content.
-
Video platforms: such as YouTube and Vimeo, where counterfeiters can upload videos promoting counterfeit products.
-
Individual websites: designed to sell counterfeit products or distribute pirated content.
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E-commerce platforms: such as Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce, where counterfeiters can create online stores to sell counterfeit goods.
-
File-sharing platforms: such as BitTorrent and MegaUpload, where counterfeiters can distribute pirated software, movies, and other digital content.
-
Cyberlockers: like RapidShare and Dropbox, where counterfeiters can store and distribute pirated content.
-
Messengers: such as WhatsApp and Telegram, where counterfeiters can communicate and sell counterfeit products.
-
The dark web: the hidden part of the Internet where illegal activities, such as selling counterfeit goods and stolen data, take place.
By monitoring these platforms, we can quickly identify and address intellectual property violations, helping to protect your brand's reputation and value.
11. What should I expect from anti-counterfeiting activities?
You can expect the following results:
-
Recovery of lost revenues:
By monitoring and preventing intellectual property infringements, brand protection measures reduce the impact of counterfeiting and brand abuse on your company's revenue and profits. -
Protect your reputation:
Protecting your intellectual property increase your brand value and improve your overall brand equity. -
Increase customer confidence:
Protecting your brand build customer trust and demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality products and services. -
Better online visibility:
By removing counterfeit products and intellectual property infringements from online platforms, you improve your company's online visibility and ensure that customers can easily find your legitimate products and services. -
Reduce your overall exposure to intellectual property infringements:
By filing a lawsuit against intellectual property infringers, you strengthen your legal defenses and reduce the risk of future violations.
Overall, brand protection activities can help you protect your company's brand, reputation, and revenues and increase your company's overall competitiveness and growth potential.
12. What are the project's deliverables/reports?
We will provide you with the following:
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Access to a database with all details and evidence of all identified IPR violations and offenders.
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A brand protection dashboard with high-level KPIs, ROI calculations, detailed reports on detected infringements, enforcement actions, brand monitoring reports, and other vital data.
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Investigations dashboard with all investigations and test purchases, including evidence, reports, and photo and video evidence.
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Monthly reports delivered to your inbox - regular updates on current monitoring trends, best practices, insights, and recommendations to improve brand protection strategies, including best practices for monitoring online platforms, reducing the risk of IPR infringement, and strengthening legal protection.
These findings and reports will help you understand the impact of brand protection measures, track their brand protection efforts, and make informed decisions to improve brand protection strategies further.
13. Can you provide case studies or examples of your previous experience?
Yes, we have a successful track record of protecting our clients' online brands.
We will be happy to provide you with specific cases and examples of our work to protect our client's brands.
To show you a relevant case (in your industry), please request a call with one of our experts, and we will share it with you.
14. What is the cost of anti-counterfeiting solution?
The cost of our brand protection services will depend on your specific needs (e.g., platforms and regions to be covered, the scope of the issue, your product catalog size, etc.) and requirements.
Please get in touch with us to arrange a consultation and receive a customized quote for your brand protection needs.
15. What do I need to start using anti-counterfeiting services?
To start using our brand protection services, you must provide information about your brand and the products you sell, relevant documentation (such as trademarks, patents, or copyrights), and sign an agreement and power of attorney with us.
Our team will then use this information to monitor, conduct investigations/test purchases, and enforce intellectual property rights on your behalf.
Schedule a demo with us and will send you templates and examples of the required documents.
16. What makes your brand protection services unique?
We cover everything from detecting and remediating high-volume online breaches to conducting global investigations and test purchases worldwide.
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No need to allocate resources
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Monitoring software with artificial intelligence
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Image recognition
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Truly global coverage
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Investigations around the world
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Test purchases with ultra-fast verification
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Customized dashboards and comprehensive reports
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Dedicated team and personal Brand Protection manager
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Flexible contract terms
We are your complete brand protection solution.
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