Counterfeiting, Piracy and the Swiss Economy
The Swiss economy is innovative and knowledge-intensive. Consequently, it relies heavily on intellectual property rights. Swiss industries are also export-oriented and solidly integrated in the global economy. At the same time, the threats of counterfeiting and piracy are growing, and Swiss industries are vulnerable. This report measures the direct economic effects of counterfeiting on Swiss industry and the Swiss government. It estimates the impact of the global trade in fake products that pose as “Swiss made” in terms of lost jobs, forgone profits and lower tax revenues.
An overview of global counterfeiting and the Swiss economy
This chapter appraises the damage caused by infringement of Swiss intellectual property rights in world trade. It identifies who suffers in particular from this illicit activity, estimates the scope and volume of such infringements, and presents the top destination and provenance economies for counterfeit goods that infringe Swiss IPR. The focus then shifts to the Swiss products that are most susceptible to counterfeiting. This chapter also pays particular attention to the latest trends in trade in counterfeit goods infringing Swiss IPR related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the negative effects of IPR infringement on the Swiss economy are estimated in terms of lost sales, lost jobs, and lost government revenue.