Fake or Genuine - An exhibition at Epal April 23-27

Have you ever come across a fantastic deal for a brand-name product online? Or been tempted by an offer for a remarkably cheap camera in Tenerife? Did you know that fake products are frequently manufactured and distributed by organized crime networks, and some can even be hazardous to your health?

In an effort to combat counterfeiting, the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office, Epal, and React - The Anti-Counterfeiting Network – invite you to attend an exhibition during Design March, from April 23rd to 27th, at the Epal stores in Skeifan 6 and Laugarvegur 7 in Reykjavik. The event also coincides with the World IP Day on April 26th. The goal of the exhibition is to highlight the importance of choosing genuine products, respecting intellectual property rights, and steering clear of fakes. Attendees will have the opportunity to inspect counterfeit product samples alongside their genuine counterparts and engage in a quiz regarding which products are genuine. The winner will receive a genuine design item courtesy of Epal.

The adage that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, rings true for most of us. Yet, the allure of striking deals on the internet often leads to disappointment: acquiring a subpar imitation without any recourse. However, counterfeit products represent more than just inferior copies of quality brand items. The counterfeiting of a broad array of products and services constitutes the most rapidly expanding segment of organized crime. It's estimated that the market for fake and counterfeit items accounts for 3.3% of global trade. This includes a wide variety of counterfeit items, such as computer accessories, toys, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, automotive and aircraft components, cosmetics, medical supplies, and furniture. In 2019, the European Union's counterfeit imports were valued at 119 billion euros—equivalent to approximately eighteen thousand billion Icelandic króna in current terms—accounting for 5.8% of all imports and resulting in the loss of 671,000 jobs. While specific data for Iceland is not readily available, in connection with the exhibition the findings of a survey on Icelandic attitudes towards counterfeit products and their purchasing habits will be presented.

However, the impact of counterfeit goods extends beyond economic damage. Counterfeit items, including drugs, medical devices, toys, car and aeroplane parts, and cosmetics, can inflict irreparable harm. Furthermore, the production and distribution of counterfeit goods often serve as a primary revenue source for organized crime syndicates involved in narcotics, arms trafficking, child labour and human trafficking. Thus, it's imperative to take action against the counterfeit goods trade. We invite you to visit Epal from April 23rd to 27th to learn more about this pressing issue.