Between 2011 and 2019, Swiss SMEs accounted for 13% of global seizures of counterfeit goods, according to a reportExternal link published on Tuesday by the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
In a ranking, the Alpine nation came second behind American SMEs, which accounted for over half of all counterfeit-seized goods during that period. Italy (11% of seizures), the UK (7%) and France (4%) were among the top five targets.
Fake watches
Large Swiss companies, with less than 5% of global seizures, were not as affected by counterfeiters as SMEs.
The report showed that certain SMEs were much more vulnerable to counterfeiting than larger companies. These included companies active in the clothing (29% of seizures among SMEs versus 16% for large firms), watchmaking (11% versus 7%) and machinery sectors (3% versus 1%).
“This reflects differences in the importance of SMEs in the different production sectors. For instance, the relatively significant role played by watches in the counterfeit goods trade affecting SMEs is partly linked to the strong presence of SMEs in the Swiss watchmaking industry,” stated the report.
Giacometti lamp tops million-franc mark in Geneva auction
This content was published on
A “Tête de femme” floor lamp by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti topped the million-franc mark at a Piguet auction in Geneva.
UN rights expert criticises Swiss pressure in trade negotiations
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has accused EFTA countries of pressuring Thailand and Malaysia in trade deals.
Switzerland gives CHF60 million to Ukraine for digitalisation
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to give war-ravaged Ukraine CHF58.7 million ($65.5 million) towards the digitalisation of its public administration.
Three people arrested in Switzerland in international drug gang crackdown
This content was published on
International co-operation led to 17 people being arrested in six European countries and large quantities of drugs also being seized.
Federal Council banks on R&D to strengthen Swiss solar industry
This content was published on
The Swiss government opposes the deployment of special industrial policy or measures to help boost the domestic photovoltaic industry.
Swiss president envisions follow-ups to peace summit
This content was published on
Swiss President Viola Amherd hopes the first Ukraine peace conference will build trust and seek solutions for safety and security issues.
This content was published on
With use of drugs such as crack on the rise, the government wants to invest in additional facilities for people suffering from addiction.
Alleged French spy tied to Swiss NGO arrested in Russia
This content was published on
The man, who Russia has claimed was trying to obtain information about the Russian military, was confirmed to be a French citizen working for a Geneva-based NGO.
This content was published on
Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit are claiming that Switzerland prioritised national interest over its legal obligation to bondholders.
Swiss customs crack down on fake medicinal imports
This content was published on
Switzerland’s customs and border security authorities have seized 231 shipments of illegally imported counterfeit medical products.
This content was published on
In both cases, the logic is the same. Firstly, the domestic market is too small. Secondly, much of the demand comes from abroad. And thirdly, Switzerland’s economic interaction with the European Union has made access to European markets much easier for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). “Size, therefore, has relatively little to do with…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.