Continued: How do trade mark and designs create value for society?

[Part two – read part one]

Other studies by the Office through the Observatory have shown that while almost everyone agrees that it is important that inventors, creators and performing artists can protect their rights and be paid for their work, people do not always act in line with their stated position.

Indeed, the most recent study of 26,000 residents drawn from all EU Member States shows that young people, in particular, have become less convinced that fake goods are damaging and are buying more counterfeit goods, mainly for price reasons.

It is important that citizens are encouraged to respect the investment of others, and learn in turn how best to protect their own ideas and creativity in a world where these things are closely linked to business success, jobs and economic growth.

Given the fundamental economic importance of IP, counterfeiting and piracy must be directly targeted as a threat to sustainable IP-based business models. The socially responsible organisation understands and sees that it uses the property of others in a way that complies with the law.

António Campinos, Executive Director, European Union Intellectual Property Office