More than half of Europeans between the ages of 15 and 24 say they have bought at least one plagiarized product online in the past year. In Sweden, this figure is 37 percent. It shows a report from the European Union’s intellectual property authority, which is presented today, on World Anti-Counterfeiting Day.
– It can be difficult to resist the temptation to buy pirated products. Many of them are really well made and cost a fraction of the originals, says Per Holgersson at the Patent and Registration Office.
The pandemic may have affected
The proportion of young people in Europe who shop for pirated gadgets online has risen from 25 to 52 percent in just three years. The pandemic can be an explanation, says Per Holgersson.
– We know that more people sat at home and ordered goods online during the pandemic, in addition, people had a little more money.
Can be dangerous
Most products that young people buy counterfeit relate to clothes, accessories and shoes. Electronic devices, hygiene items, cosmetics and perfumes are also bought counterfeit – albeit to a lesser extent.
But with branded copies, there are also dangers – some can even be life-threatening, says Per Holgersson.
– Medicines can be too strong or too weak and be made in dirty environments. They can cause severe allergic reactions as a result. Wood spirit with labels from well-known vodka brands and copied mobile phone batteries that have exploded are other examples of when pirated copies are dangerous for buyers, he explains.
Social influence is becoming increasingly important
Price and availability are still the most important factors in buying counterfeits, but social influence is also becoming increasingly important.
– When celebrities and influencers pose on social media and show off stuff, many people want the same. But a bag for 50,000 is unattainable for most people, says Per Holgersson.
The digital trend is reversing
When it comes to digital content, access from legal sources is gaining ground among the younger generations. 60 percent stated that they had not used, played, downloaded or streamed content from illegal sources in the past year, compared to 51 percent in 2019.