IPO Counter-Infringement

27/08/2026

Fake car parts can be unknowingly bought online and can cause serious road accidents, as shown in this test on fake wheels carried out by Mercedes.

Safety-critical components including tyres, wheels, airbags and brakes are some the most common counterfeit purchases.
Find out more about spotting fake parts: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counterfeit-vehicle-parts/consumer-guidance-fake-parts

20/08/2026

Counterfeit clothing isn't coming out of the same factory as the real thing.
Warehouses for badging plain clothes have been uncovered in the UK, where workers are subject to poor working conditions with no ventilation.

This is just one part of the organised crime network behind counterfeiting, money laundering and illegal shops avoiding tax, selling goods illegally and exploiting workers.

Buying fakes fuels this underground economy, undercutting legitimate businesses and risks the health of consumers.

14/08/2026

In our latest case study, shares how protecting their intellectual property from the very beginning helped turn a university idea into a global business.

Their top three tips for SMEs are:
✅ Get advice early
✅ Develop an IP strategy that works for your business
✅ Stay flexible and adapt as your business grows

Success attracts copycats, so having the right protections in place makes all the difference.

13/08/2026

Fake toys lead to real harms. With every viral toy trend, there's a market of counterfeiters cashing in. Fake versions of trending toys have been sold online, some containing hazardous chemicals like phthalates and benzenes.

We're working across government to tackle this, Border Force intercepted over 260,000 counterfeit toys last year alone, Trading Standards have consistently seized unsafe toys whilst working alongside the IPO, Dep for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the OPSS to protect consumers.

Read more from BBC Wales:

Shein said it took the claims seriously and the product is no longer available on its platform.

10/08/2026

How to spot a fake NeeDoh?
As more counterfeit and untraceable sensory toys including squishy dumplings, cubes and food replicas are being seized by Trading Standards across the UK, here's how to spot a fake:

🔸Logo: Most genuine NeeDoh products will have a NeeDoh logo on the base where the seal is and below that the official Schylling logo. Not all will say NeeDoh on the bottom, but will have the Schylling mark.

🔸Smell: Fake NeeDoh often carries a distinct, unpleasant chemical odour

🔸Texture & Consistency: Real NeeDohs have a firm, satisfying "memory foam" squish. Counterfeits are often greasy or sticky to the touch

🔸Packaging: legitimate NeeDoh fidgets for kids come in high-quality branded boxes.

Read more from BigJigs Toys:

Don't get caught out by a fake NeeDoh! Learn how to spot counterfeit squishies, find genuine UK stockists, and keep your fidget toy collection safe and groovy.

29/07/2026

⚽Fake football shirts, what's the harm?
This morning, Head of Enforcement Engagement, Helen Barnham joined ITV's Good Morning Britain as £18 million worth of counterfeit football shirts have been seized since the start of the year by Home Office Border Force, PIPCU, Trading Standards and rightsholders.

Whilst these shirts don't look harmful initially, trade in fake fashion is one of the biggest markets in counterfeiting, for funding organised crime. Continuous partnership efforts to stamp down on this trade has been marked by record breaking seizures this year.

23/07/2026

“What should parents say when children ask for fake football shirts?”

IPO’s Helen Barnham and PIPCU’s Andy Clarke discussed this with Naga Munchetty on this week.

Fake shirts aren’t just poor quality, they can fund wider criminal activity.

Read more in the link in our bio. 🔗

23/07/2026

Love your pet? Protect them from fake medicines.
🛒 Only buy flea and worming treatments from trusted sources
🔍 Check for spelling mistakes, odd smells, and poor packaging
📢 Report suspicious products to Trading Standards or Crimestoppers

Read more: https://bit.ly/FakeFleaTreatment

21/07/2026

Over £18 million worth of counterfeit football shirts have been seized in the UK this year and during the course of the World Cup, reported by BBC Sport.

This value marks the consistent and ongoing work of law enforcement, brands and industry, collaborating to tackle the issue of counterfeit football merchandise, preventing these funds from reaching criminals.

BBC Sport uncovered the safety risks behind these shirts, including flammability testing showing fake shirts burning through quickly. These shirts aren’t subject to any safety regulations as Kate Caffery IPO Head of Intelligence warned.

Video credit: BBC Sport, 2026

21/07/2026

Over £18 million worth of counterfeit football shirts have been seized in the UK this year and during the course of the World Cup, reported by BBC Sport.

This value marks the consistent and ongoing work of law enforcement, brands and industry, collaborating to tackle the ongoing issue of counterfeit football merchandise, preventing these funds from reaching criminals.

BBC Sport uncovered the safety risks behind these shirts, including flammability testing showing fake shirts burning through quickly. These shirts aren't subject to any safety regulations as Kate Caffery IPO Head of Intelligence warned.

See more from BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0rdgrkx552o
Video credit: BBC Sport, 2026