The Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet is a voluntary agreement facilitated by the European Commission. It brings together online marketplaces, intellectual property rights holders and business organisations to prevent counterfeit goods from being offered for sale online.
The MoU promotes practical cooperation, the exchange of good practices and voluntary measures to detect, remove and prevent counterfeit listings. It complements EU legislation by supporting faster cooperation between stakeholders and helping to protect consumers, legitimate businesses and intellectual property rights.
Latest developments
Modernisation of the MoU
The Commission and the signatories are updating the MoU to reflect changes in online marketplaces and the wider EU framework for tackling counterfeit goods sold online.
Online counterfeit sales: modernisation process launches
New signatories
The Memorandum continues to expand, bringing together more online marketplaces, rights holders and business organisations.
New business association joins the industry-led cooperation to tackle online counterfeiting
How the Memorandum works
The signatories work together to reduce the availability of counterfeit goods offered for sale through online marketplaces.
They exchange information, improve notice-and-action procedures, develop preventive measures and share good practices. The cooperation helps identify counterfeit listings more quickly and supports consistent approaches across different online marketplaces.
- Protect consumers
Reduce the availability of counterfeit products sold through online marketplaces.
- Support legitimate businesses
Help protect brands, innovation and fair competition in the single market.
- Strengthen cooperation
Bring together online marketplaces, rights holders and business organisations to share good practices and improve collaboration.
- Detect and remove counterfeit listings
Develop practical tools and procedures to identify and remove counterfeit offers more effectively.
Reports on the functioning of the Memorandum
2020 report
The report reviews implementation of the Memorandum and assesses cooperation between the signatories.
2020 report on the functioning of the Memorandum of understanding
2017 report
The first report based on key performance indicators introduced in the revised Memorandum.
2017 report on the functioning of the Memorandum of understanding
2013 report
The first assessment of the implementation of the Memorandum.
2013 report on the functioning of the Memorandum of understanding
Timeline
- 2016
The Memorandum is revised to introduce key performance indicators for measuring its effectiveness.
- 2011
The Memorandum of understanding on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet is signed.
Background
Counterfeit goods sold online harm consumers, legitimate businesses and intellectual property rights. They can also pose serious health, safety and environmental risks.
Since 2011, the Memorandum has provided a framework for voluntary cooperation between online marketplaces, rights holders and business organisations. It complements the EU legal framework by encouraging practical solutions, sharing good practices and supporting a coordinated response to the sale of counterfeit goods online.