Piracy - a term that in colloquial language expresses the infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) - refers to the manufacture, distribution and selling of unauthorized copies (pirated copies) of material protected by intellectual property rights. Copyright piracy is demonstrated in various forms and pertains mainly to the sectors of music, audiovisual works, computer programs, publications and radio/television broadcasts.
Piracy of IPR protected assets is a global phenomenon, which has assumed alarming proportions. In the 2019 Status Report on IPR Infringement by EUIPO, it reported that the total contribution of IPR-intensive industries to the EU economy accounts for approximately 42% of GDP (€5.7 trillion euros) and 28% of employment. Those sectors also generate a trade surplus of approximately €96 billion euros with the rest of the world and pay their workers 46% higher salaries than other sectors.
Because of the high value associated with IPR, infringement of those rights is a lucrative criminal activity, which generates significant costs to the rights owners and to the economy in general.
According to a study carried out by EUIPO and the OECD in 2019, estimates of IPR infringement in international trade in 2016 could reach as much as 3.3% of world trade. Up to 6.8% of EU imports, or €121 billion euros per year, consist of fake goods. Both sets of figures are significantly higher than those found in study by the two organisations published in 2016, indicating that the problem has grown even more serious in recent years.
Some of the most significant effects of piracy and counterfeiting in our country are the following:
- Loss of revenues for the Greek State, resulting from the reduction in VAT and customs duty collection
- Loss of employment
- Restraint of the development of cultural industry and other related industries
- Decrease to the investment of new funds
- Imperilment to consumer protection
- Inability to enforce relevant laws and to implement international obligations
- Endangering the country's prestige
The Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) has developed numerous actions for reducing and gradually eliminating the phenomenon of piracy of copyrighted works and continues to be active in this field.
The Observatory has gathered the entire relevant legal framework, on a national and a European Union level, the competent authorities, the relevant national case law and the latest developments concerning copyright infringements. Finally, a number of useful links national, European and international is given.
Τhe Observatory is a dynamic webpage constantly updated regarding the latest developments.
- Law 4481/2017
- Provisions of Law 2121/1993 (a. 63 - 66Δ)
- TRIPS Treaty (law 2290/1995)
- L. 4155/2013 (a. 40)
- Ministerial Order 10100/D3B/4020 for the imposition of the administrative fine
- Presidential Decree 131/2003 (art. 11 – 13) Integration of Directive for the Electronic Commerce 2000/31)
- Regulation 1383/2003 concerning customs action
- Regulation 1891/2004 concerning customs action
- Law 2472/1997 The protection of individual from the processing of personal data.
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic ans Social Committee: Trade, growth and intellectual property - Strategy for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries (COM(2014) 389 final).
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic ans Social Committee: Towards a renewed consensus on the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: An EU Action Plan (COM(2014) 392 final).
- Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee - Enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market.
- Council resolution of 25 September 2008 on a comprehensive European anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy plan - 25.09.2008 (2008/C 253/01)
- Council Resolution of 1 March 2010 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market (2010/C 56/01).
- European Parliament Resolution of 22 September 2010 on enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market (2009/2178(INI)).
- Manual for lodging of applications for customs action
Committee for the Notification of Copyright and Related Rights Infringement on the Internet (ΕDPPI)
Enforcement Authorities
- Courts
- Comparative charts for the period 2009 - 2020
- 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
NOTE:
We inform you that, starting from 2023, the HCO will no longer be publishing statistical data regarding the decisions of Greek courts related to cases about copyright and related rights infringement (see Law 21221/1993 and Law 4481/2017).
This development comes as a result of the HCO’s and the Greek courts’ compliance to legislation about personal data protection and also of the significant reduction of the amount of original data that is made available to the HCO, which is a consequence, among other reasons, of the limitation of the selling of digital discs with audio and audiovisual content, by street vendors. - Cyber Crime Unit
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2023 - EUIPO “Live Event Piracy - Discussion Paper”
Challenges and good practices from online intermediaries to prevent the use of their services for live event piracy
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This study analyses two issues linked to copyright and technology. The first part looks into the potential use of new technologies to improve the management of data linked to copyright-protected content by European creative industries. The second part concentrates on the copyright-related challenges raised by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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Study on malware and online piracy of audiovisual content and the risks to consumers. The evidence presented shows that the installation of malware on the devices of consumers involved in online piracy of audiovisual content is targeted and can lead to identity theft and fraud. In addition, malware can infect corporate networks for which the consumer is working remotely.
Find the study here.
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Α comprehensive analysis of the remedies adopted at national level in the EU and in the UK against online piracy of sports content.
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2021 - EUIPO “Study on dynamic blocking injunctions in the European Union”
This study and the relevant case law collected provides an overview of static and dynamic blocking injunctions in the EU available for rights holders who wish to effectively combat online piracy and protect their rights.
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Τhis report examines the consumption of copyright-infringing content in the EU Member States and the UK for TV programmes, music, and film, using a variety of desktop and mobile access methods, including streaming, downloading, torrents and ripping software.
For the full report and the executive summaries select here. -
The study explores the global problem of online piracy, the different types of digital tools and administrative measures used by rights holders, online platforms, governments and the judiciary.
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2019 - EUIPO “Illegal IPTV in the European Union”
This research clarifies the technology used in illegal IPTV, the complex supply chains and legal issues. It also casts light on a hidden area of an everyday activity, which is being exploited by organized crime, and should help raise awareness among EU citizens.
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Study: “2019 Status report on IPR infringemet”
Findings of the research carried out in recent years by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the European Observatory on the Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights (Observatory), on the extent, scope and economic consequences of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) infringement in the EU
To view an executive summary of the study select here. -
Study of the Athens University of Economic and Business
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Report: “Follow the Money: Financial Options to assist in the Battle against online IP piracy”
Μike Weatherley, Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, has published a report entitled ‘Follow the Money’, which addresses the detrimental impact of illegal websites profiting from advertising.
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Report: “Search Engines and Piracy”
Μike Weatherley, Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, has published a report entitled ‘Search Engines and Piracy’, which outlines the shortcomings of search engine providers in the fight against online piracy.
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Report: “The Economic Contribution of the Creative Industries to the EU in terms of GDP and Jobs”
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Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights on the Internet
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IP facts and figures in Greece
Select Greece on the map below to view the reports about Greece -
Intellectual property rights intensive industries and economic performance in the European Union
- 2009 - The protection of Intellectual Property rights in Greece
- Europe and North America (Unesco - World Anti-Piracy Observatory)
- Greek
- Community
- OHIM Academy Learning Portal (OALP)
OHIM Academy Learning Portal (OALP), a learning management system aimed at promoting and facilitating learning for all OHIM stakeholders, and giving access to the learning resources anytime, anywhere.
- Enforcement Database
The EDB helps law enforcement authorities to recognise counterfeit goods by enabling right holders to securely share with those authorities information on products and logistics.
- Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool - ACIST
The Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool (ACIST) is the European Union database that gathers statistics on detentions, at borders and in the internal markets, of articles that are suspected of infringing intellectual property rights.
- Enforcement of intellectual property rights
- Catalogue of online tools for business about IPR
- Τhe European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy
- Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
- Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
- Enterprise and Industry: Intellectual property rights
- Trade: Intellectual property
- Taxation and Customs: Counterfeit and piracy
- Justice, Freedom and Security: Financial crime
- TransAtlantic IPR Portal
- OHIM Academy Learning Portal (OALP)
- International
- Inter-Governmental and International Organisations
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
- World Trade Organization (WTO):
- World Customs Organization (WCO):
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- I buy real
- Interpol:
- Inter-Governmental and International Organisations