The MARQUES Anti-Counterfeiting and Parallel Trade Team shares an update on the latest survey on IPR protection and enforcement in third countries launched by the European Commission.

The European Commission (DG Trade) has launched a public consultation in order to gather information from EU entities with an interest in the protection and enforcement of IP rights in third countries. Similar activities have been launched in the past by means of a survey.

The purpose of the present public consultation is to identify third countries in which IP rights protection and enforcement is a cause for concern, as well as to update the European Commission’s report on the protection and enforcement of IP rights in third countries.

The results of the public consultation will help the Commission to focus its efforts and resources on priority countries and on specific areas of concern, with the aim of improving worldwide IP rights protection and enforcement.

The ACPT team considers this public consultation of great value, both for the Commission as well as other stakeholders in IP rights. We therefore encourage you to participate in the survey. It will only take 10 minutes of your time. The consultation can be found here and needs to be completed by16 November.