Cooperation between enforcement authorities boosts anti-counterfeiting efforts

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Cooperation between enforcement authorities boosts anti-counterfeiting efforts

Sponsored by

daniel-400px.png
Real and fake conceptual

In view of its very large territory, Brazil has always faced many challenges implementing a successful anti-counterfeiting programme. Lack of a uniform approach and the absence of a political will to tackle IP infringements on a large scale were some of the problems that held IP owners back in the past.

However, a few recent developments have changed this landscape.

Adding to the standard surveillance activities at the harbours, the Federal Revenue has been expanding its enforcement activities by conducting raid actions in what are called secondary zones. These are raids against distributors on the streets. As an example, a massive raid prior to Brazilian Children's Day in October led to the seizure of 300,000 products in three states.

Moreover, we are now seeing an increased cooperation between enforcement authorities on a national and international level.

Firstly, the cooperation between the Federal Revenue, state police and city halls has enabled the development of joint raids in major cities like São Paulo. Such raids have led to the seizure of hundreds of tons of counterfeit products over the last couple of years and even to the closure of massive distributors.

In another recent joint effort, enforcement authorities from Brazil, the United States and Great Britain coordinated a massive operation against illegal streaming services in Brazil. Raids took place in 10 different Brazilian states, leading to 252 blocked websites and 65 removed apps.

Finally, after several years of political paralysis, the National Anti-counterfeiting Council (CNCP) which is a governmental department belonging to the Ministry of Justice dedicated to anti-counterfeiting regulation has restarted its activities and launched a couple of best practice guides aimed at challenging online IP infringements.

Consolidation of a national anti-counterfeiting policy is still a work in progress. However, the combination of recent efforts has had a positive effect in dismantling crime organisations behind counterfeiting and is turning Brazil into a safer environment for IP owners and consumers.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

New members of the Access Advance patent pool and Harvard University coming under fire were also among the top talking points
Team from Graham Watt & Co will join Beck Greener’s London office
The firm reported a small uptick in overall revenue and profit per equity partner, while its IP team secured notable life sciences victories
Paul Ainsworth, who secured a settlement for his client in a patent dispute, says the case shows why medical claims by dietary supplement companies can threaten IP rights
Boies Schiller Flexner joins forces with Grünecker to target Skechers in Europe following US lawsuit
Helen Mutimer discusses how the firm’s IP advisory services are filling a gap in the market, and why life sciences work is soaring
In major recent developments, a confidentiality request was rejected, Samsung and its representative A&O Shearman secured a partial win, and EIP made a new hire
Tomas Wässingbo joins us for our ‘Five minutes with’ series to explain why he wants to change the perception around designs
PepsiCo was represented by PwC, while the Australian Taxation Office was advised by Australian-headquartered law firm MinterEllison
The firm said revenue from its ‘refreshed and expanded’ IP team increased by 4% in FY25
Gift this article