Key Highlights
- In 2022, the global economic loss due to IP theft was estimated at $1.8 trillion
- Approximately 80% of business leaders believe IP theft is a significant threat to their company
- The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 70% of counterfeit goods seized globally in 2021
- The number of IP infringement cases filed in US courts increased by 15% from 2018 to 2022
- About 50% of consumers worldwide have knowingly purchased counterfeit products
- The cost of counterfeit pharmaceuticals globally is estimated at $200 billion annually
- Electronic goods, apparel, and pharmaceuticals are among the most commonly counterfeited products
- In 2020, the FBI seized over 6 million counterfeit items in the US, with a street value of more than $1.3 billion
- The percentage of counterfeit software detected in the global market increased by 20% between 2019 and 2022
- The global market for counterfeit electronics was valued at $119 billion in 2022
- Approximately 60% of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have experienced IP theft at some point
- The average cost of IP theft per business in the US is estimated at $500,000 annually
- Counterfeit goods make up roughly 3.3% of world trade, amounting to over $500 billion annually
With an estimated $1.8 trillion lost globally in 2022 alone, intellectual property theft continues to threaten innovation, undermine businesses, and flood markets with counterfeit goods—making it a crisis we can no longer ignore.
Consumer Awareness and Behavior
- About 50% of consumers worldwide have knowingly purchased counterfeit products
- 65% of consumers are concerned about the authenticity of products purchased online
Consumer Awareness and Behavior Interpretation
Economic Impact
- IP theft leads to an average loss of 5% of annual revenue for affected companies
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic Impact and Market Size
- In 2022, the global economic loss due to IP theft was estimated at $1.8 trillion
- Approximately 80% of business leaders believe IP theft is a significant threat to their company
- The cost of counterfeit pharmaceuticals globally is estimated at $200 billion annually
- The percentage of counterfeit software detected in the global market increased by 20% between 2019 and 2022
- The global market for counterfeit electronics was valued at $119 billion in 2022
- Approximately 60% of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have experienced IP theft at some point
- The average cost of IP theft per business in the US is estimated at $500,000 annually
- Counterfeit goods make up roughly 3.3% of world trade, amounting to over $500 billion annually
- China is estimated to be responsible for 60% of the world’s counterfeit goods
- The illegal trade in intellectual property costs the US over $600 million annually in lost revenue
- The global counterfeit cosmetics market was valued at $68 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow
- Approximately 28% of all online shopping transactions involve counterfeit or pirated goods
- 37% of counterfeit goods are sold via online marketplaces globally
- The global export value of fake footwear reached $20 billion in 2022
- Counterfeiting severely impacts innovation, with 80% of R&D companies reporting significant IP theft challenges
Economic Impact and Market Size Interpretation
Industry and Product Targeting
- Electronic goods, apparel, and pharmaceuticals are among the most commonly counterfeited products
- 45% of companies report cyberattacks that specifically target intellectual property
- The most targeted industries for IP theft include technology, pharmaceuticals, and fashion
Industry and Product Targeting Interpretation
Legal Cases and Enforcement
- The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 70% of counterfeit goods seized globally in 2021
- The number of IP infringement cases filed in US courts increased by 15% from 2018 to 2022
- In 2020, the FBI seized over 6 million counterfeit items in the US, with a street value of more than $1.3 billion
- IP theft cases involving digital piracy accounted for 65% of all IP infringements worldwide in 2022
- The EU has increased its counterfeit seizure efforts by 25% from 2020 to 2022
- The United States filed over 2,300 IP infringement cases in 2022, a 10% increase from the previous year
Legal Cases and Enforcement Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1WIPOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2IBMResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3INTERPOLResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4USPTOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5EUROPOLResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6WHOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7OECDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 8FBIResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 9MALWAREBYTESResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 10STATISTAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 11ICTPOLICYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 12WORLDCOUNTERFEITINGCONGRESSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 13ACINResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 14CYBERSECURITY-INSIGHTSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 15TRANSPARENCYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 16GRANDVIEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 17ECResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 18DELOITTEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 19CONSUMERREPORTSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source