A problem that crosses borders
The OECD and EUIPO estimate that counterfeit and pirated goods accounted for up to 2.3% of global trade in 2021. Their 2025 report puts the value at USD 467 billion. These are estimates of international trade, not a count of every fake sold or a measure of today’s market.
Trust is part of the product
A genuine product comes with an expectation that its origin is what the seller claims. Counterfeiting breaks that connection. Consumers can struggle to know who made an item and where to turn when something goes wrong.
Protection is a shared task
For brands, anti-counterfeiting means looking beyond packaging and considering distribution, verification and how suspicious products are reported. For consumers, it starts with checking the seller and seeking information from the brand through an independently verified channel.
The question worth asking
How can a buyer connect the product in their hand to a trustworthy source? This blog will examine the technology and everyday practices that can help answer that question.