Simplified procedures for customs intellectual property rights enforcement

Abstract

This paper investigates the benefits of using a simplified procedure for the forfeiture of goods that infringe intellectual property rights (IPR), using a simple theoretical framework to test eventual gain. This framework considers the flow of trade and the dynamics of finding and seizing counterfeits in a way that allows for statistical hypothesis testing using Ordinary Least Squares. The research used data from European Union countries and the results suggest that there are significant gains for countries that adopt a simplified procedure. By implementing such a system, it is expected that enforcement will be more efficient, and forfeiture will require fewer resources.