UNION DES FABRICANTS
UNIFAB
Union des Fabricants is a French association promoting intellectual property and fighting counterfeiting.
Focus Areas
2023-2025
2020-2022
2016-2019
ID: 527831213232-14
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Stephane Mail Fouilleul (Head of Unit Taxation and Customs Union) and AIM - European Brands Association and
17 Oct 2025 · 12th Joint meeting of customs and right holders on customs enforcement of intellectual property rights
Meeting with Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou (Head of Unit Justice and Consumers)
4 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on the Digital Fairness Act
Response to Revision of the Union Customs Code
6 Nov 2023
Unifab (Union des Fabricants) is the French association for the promotion and defense of intellectual property (IP) rights. Founded in 1872 by a group of pharmacists, it is now composed of approximatively 200 member companies and professional federations from all sizes and all sectors of activity thus representing an annual turnover of 1450 billion euros. After more than 150 years of fighting against counterfeiting in the most effective way, Unifab has organized itself around 4 principle missions: 1. Communication and awareness raising amongst the general public: this is made possible thanks to the creation of anti-counterfeiting awareness campaigns, organizing the annual European Forum for IP, or even animating the Museum of Counterfeiting in Paris, etc.; 2. Training of public authorities: each year, Unifab organizes around 50 sessions aiming at training about 1000 French law enforcement agents (from Customs, French Police, French Gendarmerie, Fraud repression services, etc.) on counterfeiting, by giving them the tools and tips to recognize genuine products from counterfeiting ones; 3. Discussions and sharing of expertise with institutional representatives in France, Europe and internationally: Unifab intervenes in different political and legislative spheres in order to make sure the discussed draft laws and regulations are in favor of a better protection of IP rights; 4. Dialogues with digital players: as Internet has become one of the main distribution channels for counterfeit goods, it is important for Unifab to maintain good collaboration and dialogues with major internet players (online marketplaces, social media platforms, etc.) in order to make sure efficient measures are put in place to avoid IP infringements. Unifab is really concerned about counterfeiting, especially when noting that France is one of the most-affected country in the World . According to an OECD-EUIPO study, « Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods amounted to up to 2.5 % of world trade in 2019; when considering only imports into the EU, fake goods amounted to up to 5.8 % of imports. [] [I]llicit trade in fakes remains a serious risk to modern, open and globalised economies. » In France more specifically, the customs action in the fight against counterfeits is crucial, and Unifabs missions testify of the importance of the associations members working closely with these authorities, who are the eyes and ears of IP rights holders on the ground. Thus, in 2022, French customs seized more than 11.53 million counterfeit items, including 5.8 million games and toys; 780,000 personal care products; 480,000 items of clothing and accessories; 380,000 drinks and foodstuffs; etc. As the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights, representing a large number of right holders, Unifab puts a lot of efforts in making sure cooperation and collaboration between its members and European law enforcement authorities is as most effective as possible. Indeed, ensuring the best sharing of information between all those stakeholders, and giving all possible means to these latter to combat counterfeits is key to reducing this scourge within EUs internal market. [...] On May 17th 2023, the European Commission published its « Proposal for regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) n°952/2013 ». Please find here attached Unifabs comments on the latter.
Read full responseResponse to Virtual worlds, such as metaverse
3 May 2023
WHAT IS UNIFAB? UNIFAB is the French association for promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Today, UNIFAB includes more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations; it serves as unique guardian of IP rights (IPRs) of its members, and a platform for discussions on this topic. We were created at the origin for fighting against fake medicine coming to France from East Europe. Our force is that we represent more than 200 companies from all sizes, all sectors of activity and all nationalities. UNIFAB works globally because counterfeit has no frontiers, so we act not only in France but also with European and international issues, contacts and companies. We kindly invite you to find below our comments on IP issues our members did raise concerns about when it comes to virtual worlds (Metaverses). CONTEXT AND INTRODUCTION « The European Commission will develop a vision for emerging virtual worlds (e.g. metaverses), based on respect for digital rights and EU laws and values. The aim is open, interoperable and innovative virtual worlds that can be used safely and with confidence by the public and businesses. Informed by input from a citizens panel, this initiative would describe this vision, address opportunities and societal challenges, and announce upcoming implementation measures. » Intellectual property law risks facing new constraints that prevent its effective application and cast an ever greater blur on the responsibility of the actors. Several brands are seizing the emerging opportunities and are already starting to integrate into these ecosystems under construction. As a matter of introduction, UNIFAB members did highlight a certain number of preliminary findings: the deficit of the current legal approach on the topic; the necessity of a legal system to provide solutions to the digital world; the need to avoid national legislation at the risk of leading to fragmentation of the internal market; or even the need for a single treatment to avoid differentiated treatments at national level. In the context of this call for evidence, UNIFAB wanted to make sure the European Commission takes into account the positioning of French and European cultural and creative industries as well as intellectual property (IP) right holders in its upcoming legislative proposal on the topic. Indeed, as the French association for the promotion and defense of IP rights, we do see a number of opportunities but also a number of risks when it comes to the link between virtual worlds and IP, that we would like you to find in the document attached.
Read full responseResponse to Review of the Community Designs Regulation
31 Jan 2023
Unifab is the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Today, Unifab represents more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations and serves as a unique guardian of its members IP rights by presenting itself as a platform for discussion on these topics. Unifab was originally created for fighting against fake medicines coming to France from Eastern Europe. Its strength lies in the 200 companies from different sizes, all sectors of activity and multiple nationalities. As you may know, counterfeit has no frontier and that is why the scope of actions of the association is global, by working on French, European but also international issues, companies and partners. In order to fulfil its mission, Unifab is organised around 4 principal action points: o Awareness-raising towards the general public; o Training of law enforcement authorities in France and Europe; o Lobbying towards French government, European institutions and international organisations; o Discussions with online intermediaries (e-commerce platforms and social networks). Please find attached Unifabs comments regarding the review of EU rules on industrial design (regulation and directive).
Read full responseResponse to Review of the Designs Directive
31 Jan 2023
Unifab is the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Today, Unifab represents more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations and serves as a unique guardian of its members IP rights by presenting itself as a platform for discussion on these topics. Unifab was originally created for fighting against fake medicines coming to France from Eastern Europe. Its strength lies in the 200 companies from different sizes, all sectors of activity and multiple nationalities. As you may know, counterfeit has no frontier and that is why the scope of actions of the association is global, by working on French, European but also international issues, companies and partners. In order to fulfil its mission, Unifab is organised around 4 principal action points: o Awareness-raising towards the general public; o Training of law enforcement authorities in France and Europe; o Lobbying towards French government, European institutions and international organisations; o Discussions with online intermediaries (e-commerce platforms and social networks). Please find attached Unifabs comments regarding the review of EU rules on industrial design (regulation and directive).
Read full responseUNIFAB Urges EU To Prioritize Intellectual Property In Customs Reform
19 Sept 2022
Topic — The European Commission is updating customs rules to address e-commerce and security challenges.
Message — UNIFAB urges making intellectual property protection a priority in the new customs code. They propose harmonizing practices and creating a unified portal for sharing data.123
Why — Companies would save money if customs authorities covered the costs of destroying counterfeit goods.4
Impact — Organized crime groups would see their illicit trade disrupted by improved identification of counterfeit networks.5
28 Jun 2022
Introductory words
Unifab is very thankful for the opportunity given by the European Commission and especially DG AGRI to share its views and inputs regarding the revision of the EU geographical indications scheme.
This revision is eagerly awaited for a large part of the French and European members of our association, that are particularly involved into the protection and promotion of geographical indications. It is clear that the major players in GI protection, particularly in France, have come out in favor of a significant strengthening of the level of protection of geographical indications, especially at a time when new practices (such as the development of the Internet and the negative repercussions in terms of the proliferation of illegal content online) are disrupting the current framework for the protection of this type of intellectual property right. Also, a better protection of GIs contributes to the enhancement of know-how, but also meets the expectations of the general public and consumers in terms of guarantee of origin.
Unifab is fully involved in this work as well and will be attentive to the Commission’s work on this specific topic.
What is Unifab?
Unifab is the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights. Today, it includes more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations and serves as a unique guardian of its members’ IP rights.
Unifab was originally created for fighting against fake medicines coming to France from Eastern Europe. Its strength lies in the 200 companies from all sizes, all sectors of activity and all nationalities it represents.
As you may know, counterfeiting has no frontiers and that is why the scope of actions of the association is global, by working on French, European but also international issues, contacts and companies.
Please find our comments in the document attached.
Read full responseResponse to Promoting sustainability in consumer after-sales
5 Apr 2022
UNIFAB is the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Today, UNIFAB represents more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations; it serves as unique guardian of IP rights (IPRs) of its
members, and a platform for discussions on this important topic.
We were created at the origin for fighting against fake medicines coming to France from East Europe. Our force is that we represent more than 200 companies from all sizes, all sectors of activity and all nationalities. UNIFAB works globally because counterfeit has no frontiers, so
we act not only in France but also with European and international issues, contacts and companies.
We kindly invite you to find below our comments and mainly suggestions to be considered into this consultation, on which we know DG JUST as well as other European institutions, are working hard on it.
Generally, UNIFAB members would like to support the first option with a “low intervention – voluntary commitments” to encourage businesses to commit voluntarily to repairing goods with a significant negative impact on the environment and promote the purchase of secondhand and refurbished goods. The vast majority of UNIFAB members do support policies that facilitate circular economy and sustainability and thus often include into their business model and production lines practices that have low impact on the environment.
UNIFAB members would also like to point out several concerns: (1) the infringement of the exhaustion of rights theory; (2) the fate of business secrecy; (3) the non-compliance of competition law and (4) the economic consequences.
Please find our position paper in the attached document.
Read full responseResponse to Fight against counterfeiting
3 Mar 2022
UNIFAB is very thankful for the opportunity given by the European Commission to the private sector and associations. It is a manner for us to bring up comments and wishes on the creation of the most expected EU toolbox to help fighting against counterfeiting.
UNIFAB is the French association for the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Today, UNIFAB represents more than 200 French and International companies as well as professional federations; it serves as unique guardian of IP rights (IPRs) of its
members, and a platform for discussions on this important topic. We were created at the origin for fighting against fake medicines coming to France from East Europe. Our force is that we represent more than 200 companies from all sizes, all sectors of activity and all nationalities. UNIFAB works globally because counterfeit has no frontiers, so we act not only in France but also with European and international issues, contacts and companies.
We kindly invite you to find below our comments and mainly suggestions to be included into the upcoming EU toolbox against counterfeiting, on which we know DG Grow as well as other European institutions, are working hard on it.
UNIFAB would like to draw the European Commission’s attention to the issues specific to intellectual property that can be improved by this EU toolbox and/or suggestions to be included into this same initiative. Before going further, it is important to remind that an effective fight against counterfeiting is exclusively conditional on the development, adoption and implementation of ambitious legally binding obligations. Indeed, and as it has been experimented through years, voluntary measures implemented by diverse actors in the anticounterfeiting world quickly showed their limits in reducing the visibility and offering of counterfeit products both online and offline.
Read full responseMeeting with Stéphane Séjourné (Member of the European Parliament)
28 Jan 2022 · DSA (équipe)
Response to Review of the general product safety directive
4 Oct 2021
UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants is the French association for the promotion and defence of intellectual property rights. It represents companies from all economic sectors and offers them an associative framework to promote intellectual property and fight against counterfeiting.
Today, UNIFAB brings together more than 200 French and international companies and trade federations and represents a combined turnover of approximately 1,500 billion euros.
UNIFAB invites the European Commission to its comments on the revision of the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) in the attached document and welcomes the opportunity given to all types of stakeholders to contribute.
EU transparency register number: 527831213232-14
Read full responseResponse to Digital Services Act: deepening the Internal Market and clarifying responsibilities for digital services
31 Mar 2021
UNIFAB – Union des Fabricants is the French association for the promotion and defence of intellectual property rights. It represents businesses from all economic sectors, and provides them with an association umbrella for promoting intellectual property and fighting against counterfeiting.
Today, UNIFAB includes more than 200 French and international companies and professional federations and represents a cumulative turnover of approximatively 1,500 billion euros.
UNIFAB kindly invites you to find attached its comments on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and warmly welcomes the opportunity given to all types of stakeholders to contribute to this very important piece of legislation. Indeed, only one rule must be cardinal in the Commission's work on the DSA: “what is illegal offline must be illegal online”. To achieve this objective, the Digital Services Act proposes several provisions that are to be warmly welcomed but deserves to be reinforced on certain points in order to meet the objective of a safe, sustainable and regulated digital environment, free as much as possible of any illicit products online.
EU transparency register number: 527831213232-14
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the NIS Directive
18 Mar 2021
UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants is the French association for the promotion and defense of intellectual property rights. It represents business from all economic sectors, and provides them with an association umbrella for promoting intellectual property and fighting against counterfeiting.
Today, UNIFAB includes more than 200 French and international companies and professional federations and represents a cumulative turnover of approximatively 1.500 billion euros.
We kindly invite you to find our comments on the Cybersecurity Directive (NIS2) in the attached file and warmly welcome the opportunity given to all types of stakeholders to contribute to it.
Read full responseResponse to EU Agenda to tackle organised crime (2021-2025)
15 Mar 2021
UNIFAB – Union des Fabricants is the French association for the promotion and defence of intellectual property rights. It represents businesses from all economic sectors, and provides them with an association umbrella for promoting intellectual property and fighting against counterfeiting.
Today, UNIFAB includes more than 200 French and International companies and professional federations and represents a cumulative turnover of approximatively 1 500 billion euros.
UNIFAB warmly welcomes the opportunity given for all stakeholders to contribute to the European Union Strategy to tackle organized crimes (2021-2025). Pease find attached our contribution.
Read full responseResponse to Review of the Community Designs Regulation
22 Dec 2020
UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants is very thankful for the opportunity given by the European commission to share its views and inputs regarding the upcoming review of the design directive and community design regulation.
The design legislation reform is eagerly awaited for a large part of the French and European industries. UNIFAB is fully involved in this work and will be attentive to the Commission’s work on this specific subject.
Please find UNIFAB's comments regarding this Impact assessment in the attached document.
Read full responseResponse to A New Consumer Agenda
31 Jul 2020
UNIFAB is very thankful for the opportunity given by the European Commission to contribute to its roadmap on “A New Consumer Agenda”.
We encourage the Commission to include within its New Consumer Agenda, the fight against counterfeits, which are by nature, potentially dangerous and harmful to consumers.
The EU could not manage to improve the protection of its consumers, if it does not better fight against counterfeits.
Please find enclosed our contribution.
Read full responseResponse to Intellectual Property Action Plan
31 Jul 2020
UNIFAB is the French association for promotion and protection of intellectual property (IP).
Today, UNIFAB includes more than 200 French and International companies and professional federations; it serves as unique guardian of IP rights (IPRs) of its members, and a platform for discussions on this topic.
We kindly invite you to find enclosed our comments on the Intellectual property action plan.
Read full responseResponse to Digital Services Act: deepening the Internal Market and clarifying responsibilities for digital services
30 Jun 2020
UNIFAB warmly welcomes this combined evaluation roadmap / inception impact assessment. We fully agree with the EU commission when it states that “the rapid and widespread development of digital services has been at the heart of the digital transformation”. Unfortunately, this development has also had negative effects such as the increase of online sales of counterfeits and other illegal goods. That is why there is an urgent need to modernize the outdated legal framework.
Please see enclosed our full contribution...
Read full responseResponse to Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation
28 Apr 2020
Please find UNIFAB contribution enclosed
Read full responseResponse to Action Plan on the Customs Union
20 Apr 2020
Please find enclosed UNIFAB's contribution.
Read full responseResponse to Measures to further improve the effectiveness of the fight against illegal content online
30 Mar 2018
Nous saluons la volonté de la Commission (C.), qui reconnait les disparités entre les types de contenus illicites et les solutions à apporter, et entend s'attaquer à tous les contenus, y compris les atteintes aux DPI.
Nous soulignons l'importance d'adopter une approche horizontale, et invitons la C. à continuer dans ce sens. Nous l’encourageons à considérer l'hypothèse d'une action législative. Sur ce point, nous privilégions la 2e option présentée dans l’IIA. La 2e option et son approche horizontale, est plus cohérente et efficace. La C. pourra ainsi mieux traiter les questions liées à une catégorie d'acteurs, les plateformes, pour un type spécifique d'infraction, les contenus illégaux. A l'inverse, l'option 1 conduirait à créer une hiérarchie dans les contenus et à adopter une approche fragmentée. Or l'enjeu est ici universel: supprimer rapidement et efficacement, tout contenu illégal.
Nous comprenons la volonté de la C. de prioriser la lutte contre les contenus terroristes, pourvu que les autres contenus i soient pas pour autant négligés. D’autant que les liens entre terrorisme et contrefaçon ont été largement démontrés. La lutte contre les contenus ne peut donc être efficace qu'à la condition qu'elle soit totale.
Nous félicitons encore la C. pour son engagement, non seulement en faveur d'une élimination plus rapide et efficace des contenus, mais aussi, pour encourager le recours aux mesures proactives. Les mesures proactives doivent s'entendre comme comprenant les mesures préventives, pour empêcher que les contenus ne soient mis en ligne, ainsi que les mesures de maintien, pour empêcher leur réapparition. Il pourrait être utile que la C. le précise.
L'IIA relève que les récents résultats des initiatives volontaires montrent des progrès dans la quantité et la rapidité des suppressions des contenus. Pourtant ce sentiment n'est pas toujours partagé par les ayant-droits qui sont nombreux à regretter que les technologies existantes, ne soient pas davantage utilisées. Les technologies de détection et de filtrages automatisées, devraient être plus largement adoptées pour lutter contre la contrefaçon. Plus généralement, toute mesure mise en place gagnerait à être systématiquement discutée dans le cadre de dialogues entre les acteurs concernés.
S'agissant du souci de la C. d'éviter la suppression abusive ou par de contenus, les ayants-droits partagent pleinement cette préoccupation et prennent toutes les précautions pour l’éviter. Une plus grande utilisation des technologies disponibles aiderait à maintenir l’équilibre nécessaire
Sur le M.O.U, nous espérons qu'il atteindra les objectifs visés, à savoir l'établissement de bonnes pratiques entre les signataires, et leur adoption par l'ensemble des acteurs.
Il est primordial que la participation à ce programme volontaire ne soit plus limitée à un petit nombre de grands acteurs. La C. pourrait donc avoir intérêt à solliciter une nouvelle fois les plateformes d'un autre type : réseaux sociaux, sites de petites annonces, plateformes de toutes tailles, grandes comme petites. Un autre gage du succès du MOU est la collaboration entre les différents acteurs. Les ayants- droits, les plateformes et les autorités doivent plus échanger afin d'améliorer méthodologie et partage d'informations. La pleine transparence sur le reporting des actions réellement mises en place, est capitale pour assurer le bon fonctionnement du projet. Ainsi, la C. pourrait plus développer la façon dont elle entend évaluer le succès des actions entreprises: réalité des mesures proactives, preuves des contenus retirés et de leur rapidité… autant de points qui gagneraient à être améliorés.
Enfin les mesures prises par certains grands acteurs ne sont pas forcément représentatives. Pour réellement juger du succès des actions entreprises par la C., il conviendrait d'examiner si toutes les plateformes se sont responsabilisées et ont véritablement amélioré et ce de manière satisfaisante, leur fonctionnement.
Read full responseMeeting with Stig Joergen Gren (Cabinet of Vice-President Andrus Ansip)
25 Oct 2016 · IPRED
Meeting with Anna Herold (Digital Economy)
17 Oct 2016 · IPR enforcement