In 2009, European Authorities seized 118 million articles of counterfeit goods from entering the union.

The largest category of counterfeit good was clothing, with 27 percent of all seizures being fake clothing.

64 percent of all counterfeit goods seized was from China, a 10 percent increase in the amount of goods seized in 2008.

Source: “EU reports growth in fake goods from China,” BBC News, July 22, 2010.

At the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, US Customs seized 15,653 counterfeit items worth $1,826,562.

At the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona, US Customs seized 10,212 counterfeit items worth $542,120.

Source:  Megan Chuchmach, “Super Bowl Fans: Watch Out for Counterfeit NFL Goods,” ABC News, February 5, 2010.

The United States Customs and Border Protection donated $78 Million of counterfeit clothes that it seized in 2009 to various charities.   The counterfeited logos were removed and only essentials such as clothes and shoes were donated to the organizations.

Source:  Jim Dwyer, “Closing Pipeline to Needy, City Shreds Clothes,” New York Times, January 12, 2010.

Sales of counterfeit Bob Marley merchandise is estimated to generate $596 Million in sales per year.

Legal sales of Bob Marley merchandise generates only $4 Million each year.

Source:  Associated Press, “Marley heirs wage global war on trademark pirates,” Yahoo News, October 31, 2009.

According to the Guardian, fashion label Burberry is believed to be the most copied fashion label by counterfeit manufacturers, ahead of labels such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Source: “Counterfeit fashion: The most copied designer labels,” Guardian, March 17, 2009.

In 2005, sports apparel maker Columbia Sportswear seized 250,000 counterfeit pieces of clothing.

Source: Laura Palotie and Alexandra Zendrian, “Attack of the $35 Gucci Handbag,” INC, April 29, 2008.

The European Union released its 2008 Counterfeit Seizures numbers.

In all, 178 million counterfeit items were seized by Custom authorities in 2008, up from 79 million in 2007.

44 percent of all products seized were pirated CDs and DVDs.

23 percent were counterfeit cigarettes.

10 percent were counterfeit clothing.

54 percent of all counterfeit goods seized originated from China.  However, a majority of the fake food and drinks seized came from Indonesia, and most fake medicines came from India.

Source:  “EU seizures of fake goods up 125%,” BBC News, July 9, 2009.

The Clothing industry losses up to $12 billion to counterfeit clothing.

Source:  BusinessWeek, “The Most Counterfeited Products,”  October 2008.

Regional specific losses:

People in Brazil spent an estimated $3.64 billion on counterfeit clothing in 2003. Source: Brazil-U.S. Business Council, “Counterfeiting and Piracy in Brazil: The Economic Impact,” 2004,(accessed: October 9. 2005).

People in Italy spent an estimated $4.6 billion on counterfeit clothing in 2006. Source: Dow Jones, “Italy Contraband Market Europe’s No.1: Revenue Top EUR 7 Billion-Assoc,” Smart Money, October 24, 2007.

36 million people purchased counterfeit clothing in Brazil, spending an estimated $3.64 billion in 2003.

Source: Brazil-U.S. Business Council, “Counterfeiting and Piracy in Brazil: The Economic Impact,” 2004,(accessed: October 9. 2005).

Source: Dow Jones, “Italy Contraband Market Europe’s No.1: Revenue Top EUR 7 Billion-Assoc,” Smart Money, October 24, 2007.