Counterfeiting, fraud and related crimes pose significant challenges to virtually every industry. Listed below are facts and figures that highlight specific challenges that face the consumer goods & retail sector.
- The International Chamber of Commerce estimates that seven percent of world trade is in counterfeit goods and that the counterfeit market is worth in excess of $350 billion. Other sources have estimated the market as high as 542 billion.
- In 2006, U.S. agents increased their seizures of counterfeit goods by 83 percent, making more than 14,000 seizures worth at least $155 million
- Counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy approximately $250 billion annually, and have led to the loss of more than 750,000 American jobs
- Apparel and footwear losses alone are estimated at $12 billion
- According to a survey by the Business Software Alliance and the IDC research firm in 2006, more than one-third (35%) of all installed computer software was fake.
- 2006 was a record year for the number of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) seizures and domestic value of goods seized. The domestic value of products seized for IPR violations increased by 67% compared to FY 2005.