Notorious Markets List Focuses Fight Against Global Piracy and Counterfeiting of American Products

Washington, D.C. –United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced the findings of the Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets for 2013, which identifies markets around the world that harm American businesses and undermine our workers, through the infringement of intellectual property rights (IPRs). This annual review identifies both online and physical marketplaces engaging in commercial-scale IPR infringement. The publication of the Notorious Markets report helps the United States and foreign governments to prioritize enforcement of the intellectual property rights that protect job-supporting innovation and creativity in the United States and around the world.

"According to a U.S. Commerce Department study released in 2012, America's innovative and creative industries support roughly $775 billion in merchandise exports annually and 40 million jobs here at home. The markets we have identified unfairly take from these American workers, diminishing the value and salability of their work and threatening their jobs. And some of the counterfeit goods sold in the identified physical markets, from medicines and personal care products to automotive parts, can even threaten the health and safety of consumers. The marketplaces identified here warrant the immediate attention of our trading partners," said Ambassador Froman.

The Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets identifies particularly infamous markets, and does not constitute an exhaustive list of all markets dealing in pirated or counterfeit goods around the world. Nor does it reflect the United States Government's analysis of the general IPR protection and enforcement climate in the country concerned; such analysis is contained in the annual Special 301 Report issued at the end of April.

To read the full report, which includes examples of previously-identified Notorious Markets that have taken meaningful steps to address piracy and counterfeiting, click here.