Press Release: Intellectual property rights : Winners of ‘Hands off my Design’ competition announced

Counterfeiting and piracy are a growing threat for the economy. Between 2005 and 2010, the number of registered cases at the EU borders of goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights (IPR) increased from 26,704 to over 80,0001.

Meanwhile, the creative industry estimates that piracy has cost the European music, movie, TV and software industry €10 billion and more than 185,000 jobs in 2008 alone. In order to draw attention to this phenomenon the European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy launched an EU-wide contest named "Hands off my Design". Design students and professionals were asked to submit posters and videos that highlight the negative impact of counterfeiting and piracy on Europe's economy and society.