In a second phase, the Commission will examine setting up
mechanisms for administrative co-operation among the Member States
to combat the problems and the need to put forward proposals for
harmonising the minimum thresholds of sanctions and criminal
proceedings and extending Europol's powers.
The proposal for the Directive is expected to be presented during
the first half of 2001. It will concern mainly the measures and
procedures for searching, seizure and proof, the criteria for
calculating damages and the right to information.
The measures provided for in this Communication are intended to
complement those taken by customs authorities to check counterfeit
and pirated goods at the external borders of the Union.
Trade involving counterfeiting and piracy is estimated by the
Commission to account for a total of 5-7% of world trade,
representing €200 to €300 billion a year in lost revenue and the
loss of 200,000 jobs world-wide. It is estimated that EU businesses
which operate internationally are losing between €400 million and
€800 million in the single market and €2,000 million in non-member
countries.
According to the Commission’s research, counterfeiting and
piracy as a percentage of legitimate trade in the single market
accounts for 39% of the data processing market and 16% of the
audio-visual sector making these the worst affected markets.
