Welcome to the Intellectual Property Office’s counter-infringement Twitter hub!
We will share updates from @The_IPO's partnership work and showcase educational campaigns.
Follow to learn about the fight against IP crime, for advice on spotting fake goods and why to avoid them.

💄Yesterday, Kerry Nicol, External Affairs Manager @CTSI_UK joined Channel 5's Matt Allwright, discussing the work Trading Standards are doing to stop dangerous fakes after testing found 4 in 10 counterfeit cosmetics fail critical safety tests.

youtube.com/watch?v=ljaWie…

Think counterfeit beauty is harmless? Think again.
4 in 10 seized fake beauty products failed safety checks, with mercury, excessive lead and even nicotine found inside — risking skin irritation, nerve and kidney damage.

Shop safe: safeglam.co.uk/facethefakes #FaceTheFakes

💄 A beauty product that looked real. A reaction nobody expected.
When Giorgia's mum bought foundation online, she had no reason for concern until a painful skin reaction followed.

Giorgia's sharing her story to help others.
🔗 Learn more at safeglam.co.uk/campaign #FaceTheFakes

🔬 4 in 10 seized fake beauty products failed safety checks. Counterfeits can contain mercury, lead, methanol, even nicotine - harmful to nerves and kidneys.

Packaging can look convincing, but you can't tell what's inside.

Shop safe: safeglam.co.uk/facethefakes #FaceTheFakes

The IPO's #FaceTheFakes campaign launches today and is making headlines on ITV, Sky News, The Sun and The Express.
4 in 10 fake cosmetics tested failed safety checks, with mercury, lead, methanol and nicotine found.

Shop safely: safeglam.co.uk/facethefakes
#FaceTheFakes

💄 Fake beauty products can look just like the real thing, but what's inside could put your health at risk.
From skin irritation and swelling to blistering, counterfeit cosmetics can cause serious reactions.

We're encouraging everyone to #FaceTheFakes: safeglam.co.uk/facethefakes

What does IP infringement really cost the UK?
The IPO has commissioned Frontier Economics to develop a new framework that looks at how much infringement takes place, what consumers would have done instead, and where the costs fall.
Read more: gov.uk/government/pub…

Camden Council & the Met's joint operation on Camden High Street seized an estimated £1m in suspected counterfeit goods. Great partnership work protecting consumers, supporting legitimate businesses, and disrupting organised crime networks.

Read more: northlondonnews.co.uk/local/camden/c…

Join the IP Crime Group and Bio Oil for a law enforcement training session on 3 December, covering the safety risks of counterfeit skincare and cosmetic products, how to identify them and tracing illicit supply chains.

Sign up: eventbrite.co.uk/e/protecting-c…

⚠️ Using fireworks safely means purchasing from reputable sellers and follow all safety instructions.
Counterfeit or illegal fireworks can result in serious injury, fires and damage to property.

More about #FireworkSafety with @OfficeforSandS guidance: gov.uk/government/new…

🎃Counterfeit Halloween costumes fail fire safety, ignite instantly, and drip molten plastic.
Real children's costumes meet strict flammability rules.

See more in this flammability test from the Sun:
facebook.com/thesun/videos/…

Great turnout at our IPO x REACT UK training event in Newport! 🤝

40 Trading Standards colleagues joined in person, with hundreds more online, to tackle counterfeit health, beauty and hygiene products.

Thank you to REACT UK and all the brands who made it happen.

Fake Halloween makeup and contact lenses aren’t safety tested can contain dangerous chemicals like mercury and lead.
Don’t risk a potential rash, burn or scarring with fake cosmetics and only shop with reputable sellers.
How to shop safely: bit.ly/avoidingfakes

Have you requested Border Force to detain goods suspected of infringing your IP rights?
You can help to protect your rights by making an Application for Action.

Complete the form here: gov.uk/guidance/apply…

It might look innocent, but even less familiar brands can be counterfeited.
These come with serious dangers including loose parts, hazardous dyes and materials and even toxic plastics like phthalates.

Stay safe and avoid the fakes #FakeToysRealHarms faketoys.co.uk

This week, IPO IP Crime Coordinator for Scotland, Danny Blakemore is joining Venture Café Edinburgh for a discussion on the sophisticated world of counterfeit wine, risks to health and the innovative techniques used to tackle this threat.

Sign up: community.venturecafeedinburgh.org/events/9ea9fd2…

🎃Starting to think about Halloween?

Fake costumes can be dangerous. The outfits are not subjected to the same testing standards as genuine items and could be flammable.

See our tips for shopping safely: bit.ly/avoidingfakes

Those aged 18-24 are more likely to have bought a counterfeit at some point. Men are more likely to have made a counterfeit purchase than women.

Our research also shows concentration of counterfeit purchases are the highest for London residents.

Read: gov.uk/government/pub…

Sanaz Farahzadi, UK IP Attaché for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, recently visited the UK for stakeholder engagements with BBC Studios, the Premier League, ACG, and GSK, providing an opportunity to discuss priorities across key markets in the MENAP region.

We are thrilled, once again, to be shortlisted for a @PRCA_HQ UK Award. 🥳

Our 'Fake Toys, Real Harms' campaign has been shortlisted for 'Public Sector, Value for Money Campaign'. We look forward to hearing the results on 17 November.