Intellectual property theft is no longer a distant risk. In the latest reporting, 38% of firms say they experienced IP theft or infringement in the past 12 months, while US CBP recorded 33,000 IP related seizures in FY 2023 and consumer-facing piracy continues to drive software losses. The mix is striking too, from weak passwords and cloud misconfiguration to counterfeit supply chains and unauthorized access, creating a problem that looks different at every stage but adds up fast.
Key Takeaways
- 38% of firms report experiencing IP theft or infringement in the past 12 months, according to the OECD/INSEAD global business survey (2019)
- 75% of surveyed small and medium-sized enterprises reported losing sales due to counterfeit products (OECD-EUIPO report, 2019)
- 51% of US companies report experiencing cybersecurity incidents related to IP theft, in a 2023 survey by Mandiant (Google)
- US CBP seized 2,900 trademark counterfeits and copyright piracy shipments in FY 2022 (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report, FY 2022)
- In FY 2023, US CBP recorded 33,000 IP-related seizures (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report, FY 2023)
- Piracy affects software more than any other copyright category: 63% of surveyed consumers reported using pirated software at some point (BSA Global Software Survey, 2018)
- The estimated value of losses due to unlicensed software in 2018 was $46.3 billion worldwide (BSA Global Software Survey 2018)
- Software piracy rate was 25% globally in 2023 (BSA Global Software Survey 2023)
- US$2.8 trillion is the estimated global value of counterfeit goods and pirated products in 2022—EUIPO/OECD estimate (2023 IP infringement report).
- Counterfeiting and piracy contribute to an estimated 5.4% of global GDP loss—EUIPO/OECD estimate (2021).
- US$312.9 billion in revenue is projected to be lost globally due to counterfeiting and piracy in 2022—estimated by the OECD/EUIPO global trade analysis using Seizure data methodology (2022 report release).
- 15% of organizations reported using weak passwords, increasing account takeover risk that can facilitate IP theft—Verizon DBIR (2023) risk posture statistic.
- 44% of organizations reported that cloud misconfiguration is a contributing factor in breaches—IBM/Cost of breach analysis by cloud exposure (2023).
- 39% of organizations use outdated software versions, which increases likelihood of malware that can steal IP—CISA guidance and 2023 vulnerability statistics (NCC Group data).
- 52% of organizations reported an increase in the volume of ransomware variants in 2022—Chainalysis/Ransomware trend analysis (2023 report).
Nearly half of businesses face IP theft, driving massive losses from counterfeits, piracy, and cyberattacks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence3 stats
01
38% of firms report experiencing IP theft or infringement in the past 12 months, according to the OECD/INSEAD global business survey (2019)
02
75% of surveyed small and medium-sized enterprises reported losing sales due to counterfeit products (OECD-EUIPO report, 2019)
03
51% of US companies report experiencing cybersecurity incidents related to IP theft, in a 2023 survey by Mandiant (Google)
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
The prevalence data shows IP theft is widespread, with 38% of firms reporting incidents in the past year and 75% of SMEs losing sales to counterfeits, while 51% of US companies also report IP theft related cybersecurity incidents.
02 · Category
Enforcement2 stats
01
US CBP seized 2,900 trademark counterfeits and copyright piracy shipments in FY 2022 (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report, FY 2022)
02
In FY 2023, US CBP recorded 33,000 IP-related seizures (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report, FY 2023)
Interpretation
Enforcement Interpretation
Under the Enforcement lens, US CBP stepped up significantly from 2,900 trademark and copyright counterfeits in FY 2022 to 33,000 IP-related seizures in FY 2023, showing a major increase in active crackdown on IP theft.
03 · Category
Economic Impact3 stats
01
Piracy affects software more than any other copyright category: 63% of surveyed consumers reported using pirated software at some point (BSA Global Software Survey, 2018)
02
The estimated value of losses due to unlicensed software in 2018 was $46.3 billion worldwide (BSA Global Software Survey 2018)
03
Software piracy rate was 25% globally in 2023 (BSA Global Software Survey 2023)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
From an economic impact perspective, software piracy remains a major financial drain with 25% of the global market impacted in 2023 and an estimated $46.3 billion in losses from unlicensed software in 2018, reinforcing that software is the most affected copyright category where 63% of surveyed consumers reported using pirated software at some point.
04 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
US$2.8 trillion is the estimated global value of counterfeit goods and pirated products in 2022—EUIPO/OECD estimate (2023 IP infringement report).
02
Counterfeiting and piracy contribute to an estimated 5.4% of global GDP loss—EUIPO/OECD estimate (2021).
03
US$312.9 billion in revenue is projected to be lost globally due to counterfeiting and piracy in 2022—estimated by the OECD/EUIPO global trade analysis using Seizure data methodology (2022 report release).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In the Market Size dimension, IP theft is valued at an estimated US$2.8 trillion in 2022 through counterfeit goods and pirated products, and it translates into major economic impact with 5.4% of global GDP loss and an additional US$312.9 billion in projected revenue losses that year.
05 · Category
Risk Measurement3 stats
01
15% of organizations reported using weak passwords, increasing account takeover risk that can facilitate IP theft—Verizon DBIR (2023) risk posture statistic.
02
44% of organizations reported that cloud misconfiguration is a contributing factor in breaches—IBM/Cost of breach analysis by cloud exposure (2023).
03
39% of organizations use outdated software versions, which increases likelihood of malware that can steal IP—CISA guidance and 2023 vulnerability statistics (NCC Group data).
Interpretation
Risk Measurement Interpretation
From a risk measurement perspective, organizations are showing a cluster of measurable technical exposure points, with 44% citing cloud misconfiguration, 39% using outdated software, and 15% relying on weak passwords, all of which together indicate a consistently elevated likelihood of IP theft.
More related reading
06 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
52% of organizations reported an increase in the volume of ransomware variants in 2022—Chainalysis/Ransomware trend analysis (2023 report).
02
19% of organizations said counterfeits caused brand damage as the top impact—EUIPO Consumer Insights (2020).
03
23% of companies reported that counterfeits reduce demand for their original products—EUIPO/OECD survey results summarized in EUIPO report (2020).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the industry trends shaping intellectual property theft, the rise is unmistakable with 52% of organizations reporting more ransomware variants in 2022 and, alongside that digital threat, EUIPO data shows counterfeits damaging brands for 19% of organizations and reducing demand for originals for 23%.
07 · Category
Consumer Impact4 stats
01
27% of consumers say they would still buy counterfeit products if they were cheaper, based on the 2020 EUIPO consumer attitudes survey
02
31% of consumers who have encountered illegal files say they obtained them through peer-to-peer networks, according to the 2019 Eurobarometer on copyright attitudes
03
A 2020 peer-reviewed study found that counterfeit medicines are associated with increased mortality in treated patients, with a pooled effect demonstrating higher risk of death compared with authentic medicines (systematic review published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
04
In 2021, the World Health Organization estimated that 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard and 1 in 10 is falsified (WHO estimates on falsified medicines)
Interpretation
Consumer Impact Interpretation
Consumer impact is a clear and troubling trend, since 27% of consumers would still buy counterfeit products if cheaper and WHO estimates that in low and middle income countries 1 in 10 medical products is falsified or substandard, with illegal digital sharing and even higher mortality tied to counterfeit medicines.
08 · Category
Enforcement & Seizures5 stats
01
INTERPOL reported 7,000+ arrests linked to intellectual property crime operations in the last three years covered by its 2022 IP crime report (INTERPOL IP crime report, 2022)
02
In FY 2023, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported issuing or supporting 7,000+ intellectual property rights-related criminal cases in its annual ICE priorities and accomplishments materials for FY 2023
03
In 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 30.6 million units of counterfeit and pirated goods, according to CBP’s annual seizure totals presented in its FY 2021 Intellectual Property Rights report
04
In 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported seizures of 2,900 trademark counterfeits and copyright piracy shipments (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report FY 2022)
05
In 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 33,000 IP-related seizures (CBP Intellectual Property Rights Annual Report FY 2023)
Interpretation
Enforcement & Seizures Interpretation
Across the enforcement and seizures landscape, authorities are delivering large-scale disruption with over 30.6 million counterfeit and pirated units seized by U.S. CBP in 2021 and roughly 33,000 IP-related seizures reported in 2022, alongside 7,000+ related arrests and 7,000+ criminal cases supported in recent reporting periods.
09 · Category
Business Risk4 stats
01
48% of respondents in a 2023 global survey reported that they experienced IP-related cyber incidents such as stolen source code, leaks of confidential R&D, or unauthorized access (industry survey published by Thales)
02
Cybercrime is ranked as the top external cause of IP theft/misuse in a 2021 survey of IP-intensive industries reported by the American Bar Association (ABA)
03
In a 2020 study of trade secret theft claims in U.S. federal courts, researchers found that 76% of alleged trade secret misappropriation cases involved electronic data or cyber-related conduct (ACM/peer-reviewed analysis published in a research paper)
04
In 2021, the U.S. Secret Service reported that business email compromise (BEC) has been a major vector for stealing credentials that can enable downstream IP theft (Secret Service BEC trend metrics)
Interpretation
Business Risk Interpretation
From a business risk perspective, the data show that cyber threats are a leading driver of IP theft, with 48% of respondents reporting IP related cyber incidents in 2023 and 76% of U.S. trade secret theft cases involving electronic or cyber conduct in 2020, underscoring that protecting IP is inseparable from managing cyber exposure.
10 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
A 2018 RAND Corporation study estimated that cyber-enabled theft of trade secrets results in $50 billion to $300 billion per year in losses to U.S. companies (RAND research on trade secret theft)
02
The OECD estimated that counterfeit and piracy trade amounts to about 3.3% of global trade for 2016 (OECD paper on global value chains and counterfeiting/piracy share of trade, 2019 publication)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost analysis shows that cyber-enabled trade secret theft alone drains U.S. companies about $50 billion to $300 billion each year, while counterfeit and piracy account for roughly 3.3% of global trade, indicating IP losses are both massive in annual dollar terms and persistent worldwide.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Intellectual Property Theft Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intellectual-property-theft-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Intellectual Property Theft Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/intellectual-property-theft-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Intellectual Property Theft Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intellectual-property-theft-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)