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Effects of counterfeiting on EU SMEs
The majority of companies in the rubber industry are small and medium sized (SMEs) enterprises.
These smaller businesses are a key source of jobs, business dynamism and innovation in Europe.
Facing increased competition from extra-EU countries, rubber SMEs have reacted in improving constantly
the quality of their products and in developing innovative articles.
However over the past years, rubber SMEs have found on the EU market a growing number of articles counterfeited,
which induces in addition to the violation of companies ‘ intellectual property rights (IPR), significant profit
losses and could dangerously affect the consumers’ safety.
In such cases, SMEs are less equipped than larger firms to use outside expertise and they may be reluctant to turn
to outside help due to the costs involved.
End- 2006, ETRMA was solicited by the European Commission to contribute to a study aiming at assessing the impact
abuses of IPR on small business, reviewing various public and private IPR enforcement initiatives and resources and at
considering ways in which SMEs could better protect themselves. The study covered four sectors: auto parts including rubber
articles, mechanical engineering, textiles and toys.
The study on
Effects of counterfeiting on EU SMEs with the
Inventory of support measures was finalised in August 2007.
Update 12 October 2007
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