The European Commission published the following two reports on 14 August:

• A report on the functioning of the MoU on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet
• A report on the functioning of the MoU on online advertising and IPR

The Commission has also published a monitoring study on the impact of the MoU on the online advertising market. The study examines the extent and nature of the problem in EU countries from January to June 2019, compares the EU with the US and compares some identical websites before and after the signature of the MoU.

Background

The MoU on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet is a voluntary agreement bringing together online platforms and rights holders. It was concluded in May 2011, and revised in 2016.

The MoU on online advertising and IPR was signed in September 2019. Signatories commit to minimise the placement of adverts that infringe copyright or disseminate counterfeit goods.

The Commission hopes that the new reports will stimulate further and better cooperation between the signatories. The findings will also feed into the evidence gathering for the Digital Services Act, as well as new initiatives to be announced in the Commission’s forthcoming Intellectual Property Action Plan.

MARQUES responds

In its preliminary comments on the Commission’s consultation, MARQUES expressed its full support for the Commission’s Roadmap on an Intellectual Property Action Plan.

MARQUES also endorsed the purposes of the proposed action plan, namely (1) to identify current shortcomings and propose practical measures to improve the quality and consistency of the IP framework and (2) to ensure that he EU has well-calibrated and modern IP policies that contribute to the resilience and competitiveness of the EU’s economy and facilitate the digital and green transition.