In February 2025, Amazon strengthened its fight against counterfeiting in the UK by becoming a member of two prominent organisations: The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) and the UK IP Crime Group (IPCG).
The ACG has been at the forefront of anti-counterfeiting efforts since 1980, championing international cooperation and multi-agency enforcement strategies across the UK and EU.
Similarly, the IPCG unites government departments, enforcement agencies, and private sector partners to reduce the impact of IP crime on businesses, consumers, and the economy. These memberships complement Amazon’s existing anti-counterfeiting efforts across the European region and further our commitment to protecting customers, brands, and our store from counterfeit goods, while holding bad actors accountable.
Tackling the counterfeit threat in the UK
In 2021, Amazon launched a blueprint for private and public sector partnerships to disrupt counterfeiting networks. The blueprint outlines three key strategies, including:
- Exchanging information on counterfeit activity to help stop counterfeits at the border
- Sharing information about blocked bad actors to help the industry stop more bad actors earlier
- Increasing resources for law enforcement to prosecute bad actors
Since then, public and private sector collaboration continue to be critical in the fight against counterfeiting.
According to the latest OECD analysis on Trade in Counterfeit Goods and the UK Economy, industry-wide seizures fell during the COVID-19 pandemic globally, yet the UK remains vulnerable to the effects of counterfeiting. In 2021, the estimated value of imported counterfeit and pirated goods into the UK amounted to GBP 7.1 billion, equivalent to 1.5% of total imports across all sectors.
Through the membership with the IPCG, Amazon will further strengthen the close collaboration with UK law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and other industry partners, including fellow IPCG member, ACG, to combat IP crime - leveraging advanced detection systems and data analytics to enhance intelligence on bad actors and emerging trends. These collaborations mark a significant milestone in our ongoing strategy to protect customers and businesses from counterfeit products in the UK.
“The IPO recognises that addressing IP crime is best done through partnership working and the IP Crime Group (IPCG) is one of the ways in which partners from law enforcement, government and industry come together and collaborate to tackle IP crime and infringement in the UK,” said IP Crime Group Delivery Manager, Intellectual Property Office, Simon Gerwitz. “A strong public/private partnership is a key building block of effective efforts to address counterfeiting and piracy, and the IPO welcomes Amazon joining the IPCG as part of these efforts.”
Amazon has a longstanding relationship with the ACG, built on years of collaboration. We’ve hosted and participated in panels, receptions and roadshows alongside the ACG, including the 2024 ACG Annual International Conference: Counterfeiting & Illicit Trade in the Digital Age. At the event, Amazon’s Global Director, Customer Trust, Katharine Lister, participated in the panel, “The Secrets to Fighting Transnational Counterfeiting On and Offline,” alongside industry leaders from Epson and Philips to share insights on strengthening brand defences against evolving counterfeit threats.
Our goal is to build longstanding and sustainable partnerships with online intermediaries through a membership which offers supportive responses and services for ACG members. We are delighted to welcome Amazon as our inaugural member of the new ACG - The Anti-Counterfeiting Group Intermediary Membership category.
Holding bad actors accountable through global collaboration
The new UK memberships align with Amazon’s broader global strategy to collaborate with industry stakeholders, and hold bad actors accountable. Our Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) - a global team that includes former UK law enforcement detectives, U.S. federal prosecutors, expert investigators, and data analysts - works alongside law enforcement and brands to pursue criminal networks beyond our store.
Since its launch in 2020, CCU has pursued more than 24,000 bad actors through litigation and criminal referrals to law enforcement. In 2024 alone, we identified, seized, and appropriately disposed of more than 15 million counterfeit products worldwide, preventing them from harming customers or being resold elsewhere in the retail supply chain.
Our collaborative approach enables rapid exchange of intelligence with customs officials, police authorities, and rights holders across multiple countries. These partnerships have led to significant enforcement actions, including the joint development of new strategies to identify and stop bad actors at the source. In 2024, Amazon’s cross-border work with law enforcement led to more than 60 successful raid actions, with over 100 bad actors identified and detained.
Many of these were manufacturers, suppliers, or upstream distributors of counterfeit products. Through information sharing with customs agencies, we helped stop more than 90,000 counterfeits from reaching domestic supply chains.
Amazon remains committed to expanding these collaborative efforts, sharing intelligence, and working alongside law enforcement to protect customers and brands across the globe. Through continued innovation and partnership, we will make it increasingly difficult for bad actors to operate.
To learn more about Amazon’s approach to holding bad actors accountable, visit this page here.