Class 46 has learned from its friends in the OHIM Observatory that the third sectorial report on the economic cost of IPR infringement, covering the sporting goods sector, was launched yesterday.

In line with its mandate, the Observatory has started to evaluate the negative impact of counterfeiting and its consequences for legitimate businesses, governments and consumers, and ultimately society as a whole. Results of this third study, which will be followed by some other sectorial studies, seek to pave the way towards quantification of the scope, scale and impact of IPR infringements in the European Union. The link to the study can be found on the Observatory website here, along with links to earlier studies on the cosmetics and clothing sectors.