The XIV International Forum Anti-Counterfeit 2026 brought together representatives of government authorities from the EAEU member states, international, academic and educational organizations, as well as the business community to discuss current issues related to enforcement of intellectual property rights and combating the circulation of counterfeit goods.
The President of the Eurasian Patent Office Mr. Grigory Ivliev took part in the plenary session titled “Digital Economy Without Counterfeits: Trust and Transparency”, placing particular emphasis on criminal law mechanisms for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
“As intellectual property becomes an increasingly valuable asset for rights holders, the number of related infringements continues to grow. This, in turn, increases the demand for a high level of enforcement of exclusive rights, particularly in the context of cross-border trade,” noted Grigory Ivliev.
Criminal liability for the infringement of patent and inventor’s rights remains relatively uncommon, as rights holders often prefer civil law options. This is due both to the complexity of proving intent and to the lack of specialized IP expertise within law enforcement authorities.
At the same time, it is important to maintain a balanced approach to the enforcement of intellectual property rights, avoiding excessive criminalization of the IP field while ensuring effective protection of the interests of inventors, businesses and consumers.
