Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Counterfeit definition

What does Counterfeit mean? In legal practice, counterfeit describes an imitation product, document or currency made to pass as genuine, typically to deceive consumers, authorities or rightsholders and to secure an unlawful advantage. The term is used descriptively across criminal and civil contexts rather than having a single universal definition. For currency, specific statutory offences exist: in the UK, the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 criminalises making, possessing or passing counterfeit banknotes and “protected coins”; Ireland has equivalent offences under national legislation. In trade mark law, “counterfeit goods” commonly means goods bearing an identical or confusingly similar sign to a registered trade mark without consent,...

UK anti-counterfeiting enforcement: customs, Trading Standards, police, and civil and private criminal actions—practical guidance for lawyers

Published by a LexisNexis IP expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines the principal routes for tackling the UK trade in Counterfeit Goods, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each, and providing practical pointers for brand owners. It addresses action by the authorities—customs, Trading Standards (TS) and the police—as well as civil proceedings and private criminal prosecutions pursued by right holders. While some jurisdictions permit administrative action against infringers, that avenue is not considered here. The focus is counterfeiting (Trade mark-related offences), with brief reference to piracy (copyright-related offences) and offences concerning registered designs. Anti-counterfeiting measures are discussed across both online and offline channels. For broader guidance on online brand protection, see Practice Note: Brand protection online—strategy and Brand protection online—checklist. For tackling counterfeit goods at EU-level, see Practice Note: IP enforcement and the EU customs regime. Further reading is available from the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO):

IP crime and enforcement for businesses
IP: crime and infringement
IP: enforcement and infringement research

What are counterfeit goods?...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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