A two-day seminar was held in Belgrade on September 29 and 30, 2026, within the framework of the project “EU Support for the Internal Market – EU4IM”, one of the key objectives of which is to strengthen the capacities of intellectual property rights enforcement authorities.
The seminar, entitled “Pilot Project for Online Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Public-Private Cooperation, OSINT and Forensic Investigations – Sportswear”, brought together numerous representatives of competent institutions and the private sector with the aim of enhancing mutual cooperation and combating the trade in counterfeit goods more effectively.
The event was opened by the Director of the Intellectual Property Office, who welcomed participants from Serbia and abroad and emphasised the importance of exchanging experiences and networking among experts. It was highlighted that combating the online sale of counterfeit sports footwear and apparel requires coordinated efforts by a number of institutions and adaptation to new technological challenges, as well as that the aim is to place the issue of intellectual property rights enforcement higher on the political agenda in the future.
During the two-day event, distinguished experts from European institutions shared their experience through presentations and panel discussions, including representatives of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Spanish National Police, the Criminal Office of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic and the Belgian Economic Inspection.
Particular emphasis was placed on cooperation with the private sector and online platforms. Representatives of leading global and regional online marketplaces and platforms – Alibaba, Temu, Amazon, Ananas and TikTok – also participated in the event. In addition, representatives of renowned global brands and rights-holder organisations – Nike, React, Puma and Adidas – presented their perspectives through case studies.
As part of the project activities aimed at institutional capacity building, particular focus was placed on the application of modern methods such as OSINT tools (Open Source Intelligence) and forensic investigations, including expert guidance and a presentation of the use of a software tool for combating intellectual property rights infringements online. Through presentations and practical examples, participants analysed current challenges in this field and models for more effective protection of intellectual property rights in the online environment.
The successful implementation of this event represents another important step within the EU4IM project towards developing more effective mechanisms for combating illegal market practices in the field of intellectual property, as well as strengthening consumer protection in the Republic of Serbia.
