Mexico Seizes Over 200,000 Counterfeit World Cup Products Worth $1.8 Million

Mexico's Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has cracked down on counterfeit goods related to the FIFA World Cup, seizing more than 200,000 pirated items. The haul, valued at over 32 million pesos (approximately $1.8 million USD), primarily consisted of jerseys and sports merchandise.

This action is part of IMPI's comprehensive strategy to protect intellectual property rights for World Cup-related products. The institute collaborated with several government bodies, including the Ministry of Economy, the Citizen Security Secretariat of Mexico City, the Navy Secretariat, and the National Customs Agency of Mexico. Operations were conducted in various locations within Mexico City and at the Lázaro Cárdenas customs in Michoacán.

Beyond physical goods, IMPI also took down 325 URLs illegally broadcasting World Cup matches and had another 170 in the process of being addressed. These efforts followed complaints from the exclusive rights holder for World Cup broadcasting in Mexico. The institute received 214 piracy complaints related to the tournament, with 67% concerning unauthorized match broadcasts and 33% regarding the sale of fake merchandise. Additionally, IMPI conducted 550 verification visits to businesses across different states to ensure compliance with intellectual property laws.