EUIPO Organised the Conference on “Combating IP Infringement in the Digital Age” in Tokyo
On 26 October 2026, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), within the framework of the EU–Japan Intellectual Property Action (EU–Japan IPA) project, organised the conference “Combating IP Infringement in the Digital Age” in collaboration with the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan at Europa House in Tokyo, the event brought together representatives from public authorities, digital platforms, industry and rights holders from the European Union and Japan to exchange views on the growing challenges of intellectual property infringement in the online environment and to explore practical ways to strengthen cooperation and enforcement.
Participants included representatives from the Japan Patent Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and its Observatory, the Customs and Tariff Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Finance, and the State Tax Administration Agency of Spain, alongside private-sector stakeholders from e-commerce platforms and industries affected by counterfeiting and online infringement. Under the theme “Strengthening Cooperation Against Online Counterfeiting and Fraudulent Advertising: From Detection to Enforcement”, the conference examined issues such as fraudulent advertising on social media, the exploitation of digital platforms by organised crime, and the challenges associated with tracing counterfeit goods across increasingly complex digital supply chains.
Discussions also highlighted the role of customs authorities, enforcement agencies, online platforms and rights holders in tackling online infringement. Particular attention was given to the use of technological innovations, including AI-based detection tools, to support enforcement cooperation, as well as to the importance of trusted data flows and interoperable frameworks for effective cross-border action. Through expert presentations and panel discussions, the conference provided a valuable platform for dialogue between EU and Japanese stakeholders and contributed to strengthening cooperation in addressing the evolving digital dimensions of intellectual property crime.