Europol, in collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Bulgaria’s General Directorate Combating Organised Crime (GDBOP), recently hosted a pivotal conference on combatting intellectual property crime in the digital era. The event titled “From CLICK to CRIME: Investigating Intellectual Property Crime in the Digital Age” took place on October 22-23, 2025, in Sofia, Bulgaria, highlighting the increasing challenges and collaborative efforts required to tackle this modern scourge.

The conference shed light on the extensive impact of intellectual property crime which not only affects business revenue but also poses serious risks to consumer safety and the overall integrity of the digital economy. Issues ranged from counterfeit pharmaceuticals and unsafe children’s toys to illegal streaming services that compromise the entertainment industry and expose users to harmful content. These crimes are not isolated incidents but are the workings of sophisticated criminal networks that exploit digital and global supply chains to maximize their illegal profits.

Experts at the conference emphasized the importance of international cooperation and strong collective action in addressing these crimes. They discussed successful anti-piracy operations and explored evolving criminal tactics such as the use of social media for the promotion of counterfeit products and malware distribution. The event also served as a platform to showcase Europe’s latest tools and strategies in the fight against these crimes, including financial investigations aimed at disrupting the economic foundations of these criminal networks.

The gathering highlighted the urgency of enhancing public awareness and regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the rapid digital transformation that continues to shift trade from physical to online platforms, significantly noted in the EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2025 report. As part of ongoing efforts, Europol and EUIPO have reinforced their commitment through the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3), established in 2016, to foster a coordinated response to intellectual property crime in both online and offline environments.