Counterfeiting and piracy impact virtually every product category. The days when only luxury goods were counterfeited, or when unauthorized music CDs and movies DVDs were sold only on street corners are long past. Today, counterfeiters are producing fake foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, electronics and electrical supplies, auto parts and everyday household products. And, copyright pirates have created multi-million networks to produce, transport and sell their unauthorized copies of music, video and software.

Millions of fake products are being produced and shipped around the world to developing and developed markets at increasingly increasing alarming rates. Millions of consumers are now at risk from unsafe and ineffective products, and governments, businesses and society are being robbed of hundreds of billions in tax revenues, business income and jobs.

The drain on the global economy is significant and the longer term implications of the continuing growth in this illicit trade are enormous. The OECD has reported that “international trade in counterfeit and pirated products could be up to US$ 200 billion”.  Taken together with the value of domestically produced and consumed counterfeits, the significant volume of digital and fake products being distributed via the Internet, and the loss of economic development, harm to heath & safety, reduced technology transfer, and innovation, the total magnitude of counterfeiting and piracy worldwide is well over US$ 600 billion.

A disorder of this magnitude undermines economic development, a sound market economy system and open international trade and investment. No legitimate business and no country is immune from the impact of counterfeiters and pirates. No single business, business sector or country can fight this battle alone.

Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy – BASCAP – was launched by the International Chamber of Commerce to:

• Connect and mobilize businesses across industries, sectors and national borders in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.
• Pool resources and expertise – creating greater critical mass than any single company or sector could do alone.
• Amplify the voice and views of business to governments, public and media – increasing both awareness and understanding of counterfeiting and piracy activities and the associated economic and social harm.
• Compel government action and the allocation of resources towards strengthened intellectual property rights enforcement.
• Create a culture change to ensure intellectual property is respected and protected.