Product piracy and know-how theft cause considerable damage to the German mechanical and plant engineering industry every year. According to the VDMA Product Piracy Study 2018, 71% of mechanical and plant engineering companies in Germany are affected by product and brand piracy. The estimated annual loss: 7.3 billion euros.

The VDMA has published the study every two years since 2003. Compared to the previous study in 2016, the absolute damage to companies has not changed, but according to 39% of the companies surveyed, the situation has worsened. Not only are counterfeits a security risk for consumers and users, they also damage the good reputation of companies. While product pirates used to focus on purely technical replicas, they are now increasingly turning to imitations of the external appearance or entire brands. The damage to image is enormous.

But anyone who believes that counterfeiters are only based in China is mistaken. Although the Middle Kingdom is still the world leader when it comes to the place of origin of counterfeits, Germany itself is in second place - albeit at a considerable distance. However, the theft of ideas in the neighborhood is declining - only 19 percent named German companies as the source of plagiarism. In 2016, this figure was still 24%. Italy follows closely behind (18% of mentions).

Putting product pirates in the pillory

If you are affected by counterfeiting, companies can enforce the applicable law first out of court and then under civil law. However, more than a third of those affected do not take any action. Small and medium-sized companies in particular are passive. According to the VDMA, this depends on the knowledge of the specific counterfeiter, but also on the disappointing support abroad: 85% of those affected complain about a lack of support from the respective authorities, 83% lack the necessary commitment from local trade fair companies abroad.

Get active!

However, companies can still take action: they can register the plagiarism for the Plagiarius negative award until November 30, 2019! Since 1977, Aktion Plagiarius e.V. has been awarding the garden gnome with the golden nose to manufacturers and retailers of particularly brazen plagiarisms and counterfeits. The declared aim of the Plagiarius campaign is to raise public awareness of the unscrupulous business practices of product and brand pirates and to sensitize industry, politics and consumers to the problem.

A changing jury of experts selects the winners. However, before they are "awarded", the alleged plagiarists are informed of their nomination in writing by Aktion Plagiarius and are given the opportunity to comment.

The award ceremony will take place during a press conference at Frankfurt's 'Ambiente' trade fair. During the trade fair, which takes place from February 7 to 11, 2020, all submitted originals and plagiarisms will be prominently displayed. The award-winning products will then be presented online and at Plagiarius exhibitions.

The following must be submitted to the competition:

• the original product,
• the alleged plagiarism,
• the completed registration form,
• Correspondence with the plagiarist, if any,
• Copies of registered industrial property rights (if notified),
• if applicable, background information that could be helpful to the jury.

The deadline for the 2020 Plagiarius competition is November 30, 2019.

You can find the "winners" from last year in our Plagiarius competition 2019 photo gallery.