Counterfeiting is no small issue, it’s a colossal threat. According to the OECD–EUIPO, counterfeit goods made up USD 467 billion in global trade in 2024, or roughly 2.3% of total imports, a level comparable to the GDP of several advanced economies.
Fashion and personal goods like clothing, footwear, and leather accounted for 62% of seized fakes, while dangerous items including automotive parts, cosmetics, toys, food, and medicine are increasingly infiltrating the supply chain. For small and medium-sized businesses, these risks can be devastating, making easy-to-use brand protection platforms for small and medium-sized businesses more critical than ever.
Here are three common approaches brands take and why only one truly works.
Waiting Until It’s Too Late
Some brands stay passive, responding only when alerted by customer complaints or visible harm. In theory, it’s cost-free: you spend nothing until a problem surfaces.
But the consequences are high:
- Counterfeits circulate freely, damaging your reputation.
- By the time you act, consumer trust may already be shattered.
- You're in constant catch-up mode always a step behind.
Doing It All In-House: Manual Monitoring
Some teams scan marketplaces, social media, and listings themselves. This hands-on method offers better awareness but:
- It’s extremely resource-heavy and hard to scale globally.
- Manual searches miss disguised or coordinated infringements.
- Enforcement is slow by the time you flag something, copies have already spread.
As one client shared:
“We spent months chasing listings. By the time we’d submitted takedowns, counterfeits had already reappeared elsewhere, it felt endless.”
Proactive Protection: Tech + Human Expertise (IP Moat’s Approach)
This hybrid approach is the only strategy that consistently delivers.
- IP Moat monitors 24/7 across marketplaces, social media, ads, even live-stream platforms.
- Experts act fast, ensuring counterfeit listings are removed, not just flagged.
- Scalable & cost-effective whether you're dealing with dozens or thousands of threats.
- Health and safety risks minimised, by detecting dangerous fakes (like toys or auto parts) before damage occurs.
That’s why IP Moat is one of the leading software solutions for entrepreneurs to protect trademarks online offering not just monitoring, but also the enforcement power to take action. One of our users quote:
“In under a month, counterfeit listings dropped by 70%. IP Moat gave us clarity across platforms and removed threats faster than we ever expected.”
Another noted:
“We’re a mid-sized brand, so budget mattered. Over 800 fake product listings removed with minimal effort and at affordable rates . This is the new bar for anti-counterfeit software. 110% recommended!”.
Why This Strategy Wins
Counterfeiters operate fast, globally, and across evolving channels. Waiting or doing it manually just doesn’t keep pace. To protect your brand, you need speed, scope, and expert support. Only proactive detection combined with enforcement delivers that.
That’s why more brands in 2025 are looking to software tools for detecting counterfeit products online for small businesses in 2025, solutions designed to balance affordability, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Conclusion
Counterfeiting isn’t slowing down, it’s accelerating. From fashion to pharmaceuticals, counterfeiters exploit marketplaces, social media, and emerging technologies to stay one step ahead. The numbers are staggering: nearly USD 467 billion in global trade, with consumer safety and brand reputation on the line.
For businesses, the real choice is simple: stay reactive and risk damage, exhaust internal teams with manual monitoring, or embrace proactive protection that combines tech with human expertise.
At IP Moat, we believe every business big or small deserves accessible, effective brand protection. Our platform doesn’t just help you detect counterfeits; it empowers you to remove them quickly, safeguard your customers, and preserve the trust you’ve worked so hard to build.
Your intellectual property is your moat. Let’s strengthen it together. Get a Free Audit Today!
