Introduction

From the days when Gallo-Roman potters placed their best-known competitors' seals on the necks of their own amphoras, to today's manufacturers of fake pacemakers, blood-pressure monitors, cough syrups, toothpastes, washing powder, soft drinks, software, CDs or medicines, counterfeiting and piracy have evolved constantly with emerging trends and technology.

There has recently been an enormous growth in the illegal market for designer goods with a 'name' or trademark (counterfeit goods), as well as goods made without paying for the intellectual property rights (pirated goods).

Quite apart from having economic consequences, these activities have now also attracted international trafficking rings, which make massive profits, but more importantly put consumers' health and safety in increasing danger.

To better understand the phenomena of counterfeiting and piracy, they must be considered within the context of an evolving problem - looking at the evolving nature of the economic consequences, the types of objects being counterfeited, the role of fraudulent organisations, the legislative means available to EU customs administrations and the new customs techniques likely to hinder the various types of trafficking. Through this, the interests of legitimate producers and importers can be protected.