The Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights

The Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights such as copyright and related rights, trademarks, designs or patents was adopted in April 2004.

The Directive requires all Member States to apply effective, dissuasive and proportionate remedies and penalties against those engaged in counterfeiting and piracy and so creates a level playing field for right holders in the EU. It means that all Member States will have a similar set of measures, procedures and remedies available for rightholders to defend their intellectual property rights (be they copyright or related rights, trademarks, patents, designs, etc) if they are infringed.

30.11.2012: Civil enforcement of intellectual property rights: public consultation on the efficiency of proceedings and accessibility of measures

30.05.2012: Conference on “Enforcement of intellectual property rights: the review of Directive 2004/48/EC” on 26 April 2012

14.07.2011

Summary Report on the Public Hearing on Directive 2004/48/EC of 7 June 2011(37 KB)

List of participants(29 KB)

19.04.2011: Public Hearing on Directive 2004/48/EC and the challenges posed by the digital environment – Brussels, 7 June 2011

11.01.2011

Consultation on the Commission Report on the enforcement of intellectual property rights

Summary of comments received (08.07.2011)
Comments of respondents
Report on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (COM(2010) 779)
Analysis of the application of Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Member States (SEC(2010) 1589)

15.05.2008: Judgement by the Court of Justice; Case C-341/07; Commission vs. Sweden

13.04.2005: Statement by the Commission concerning Article 2 of Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (2005/295/EC)

29.04.2004

Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights

Text of the directive
Press release (IP/04/316), 09.03.2004
Press release (IP/03/144), 30.01.2003
Frequently Asked Questions (MEMO/03/20)