EU flags Nigeria, others for intellectual property rights violations

 The European Union on Thursday identified Nigeria among several countries posing significant concerns over intellectual property rights violations, placing it alongside China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand on its latest priority watch list.

The EU’s Trade and Economic Security Commission, in its biennial report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries, warned that counterfeiting and piracy are causing serious harm to the European economy.

In 2023, EU customs seized 17.5m counterfeit items worth nearly €811m at its borders. Online piracy was also reported to be on the rise.

Highlighting the economic stakes, the commission noted that IPR-intensive industries contribute nearly half of the EU’s annual GDP and over 80 percent of its exports.

These industries are vital for sustainable job creation and economic stability.

The report classified China as the top concern for the EU, followed by India and Türkiye.

Nigeria, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand, falls into the third priority group.