Public consultation on the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List

All stakeholders

You may submit your input by replying to the EU survey (questionnaire)

The European Commission aims at identifying online service providers and physical marketplaces located outside the European Union that are reported to engage in, facilitate or benefit from substantial infringements of intellectual property rights (IPR), and in particular piracy and counterfeiting. 

The European Commission requests written contributions from stakeholders identifying online services and physical marketplaces that may fulfil the criteria to be included in the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. Online service providers are encouraged to report on the measures they have taken to avoid or reduce IPR infringements by third parties on their services. Online service providers and physical marketplace operators appearing in the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List of 2025 are also invited to submit written contributions in which they present the actions they have taken to address IP infringements on their services or while providing their services.

The new edition of the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List is planned to be published in the second quarter of 2027. It will identify and describe the reportedly most problematic online services and marketplaces in order to encourage their operators and owners, as well as the responsible local authorities and governments to take the necessary actions and measures to reduce the availability of IPR infringing goods or services.

The Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List is not an exhaustive list of the reported services and marketplaces and does not purport to make findings of legal violations. Neither does it provide the European Commission services’ analysis of the state of protection and enforcement of IPR in the country or countries concerned.

Background

Infringements of intellectual property rights (IPR), particularly commercial-scale counterfeiting and piracy, cause substantial economic harm to rightholders, legitimate businesses and those whose employment depends on such businesses. These infringements weaken the European Union's comparative advantages in innovation and creativity, to the detriment of its citizens. They also pose serious risks to consumer health and safety and can have harmful environmental impact. Moreover, counterfeiting and piracy significantly affect European business operating outside the Union.

Stakeholders are now invited to provide their replies to the contributions submitted during the consultation and to share their comments, observations, and any relevant additional information.

Stakeholders wishing to provide a reply are invited to submit their contributions by 28 October 2026 via TRADE-COUNTERFEIT-AND-PIRACY-WATCH-LISTec [dot] europa [dot] eu (TRADE-COUNTERFEIT-AND-PIRACY-WATCH-LIST[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

The replies received will be taken into consideration in the context of the preparation of the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List 2027.