10 | 06 | 2026

World Anti-Counterfeiting Day

Source: Pixabay

World Anti-Counterfeiting Day has been marked since 1998, on the initiative of the manufacturers’ association Union des Fabricants (UNIFAB), founded in 1972 by a group of pharmaceutical companies whose products were being counterfeited. In 2026, this day is marked on 10 June, with a focus on raising public awareness of the economic, health and environmental risks associated with counterfeit goods and piracy.

In the year when we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), we continue to remind citizens of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and combating counterfeiting and piracy, with particular attention given to the issue of online piracy.

Counterfeit products imitate original goods bearing a trademark in such a way that, at first glance, they appear authentic, while unlawfully exploiting intellectual property rights and damaging the reputation of legitimate manufacturers. Counterfeit products are typically of inferior or unverified quality and may pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.

Piracy refers to any unauthorised use of copyrighted works and related rights. While the digital environment has enabled fast and easy access to creative content, it has also facilitated digital piracy; namely the unauthorised downloading and use of such content. Today, most infringements of copyright and related rights occur online, for example through unauthorised file sharing (via peer-to-peer networks), illegal online distribution of protected content (such as music, films, software, etc.), and unlawful streaming of television programmes, films and live sports events over internet protocol networks; sometimes imitating legitimate IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services. Digital piracy not only harms creators who invest their knowledge, effort and resources into producing and distributing content, but also undermines the broader creative and economic ecosystem.

On the occasion of the FIFA World Cup, which begins on 11 June 2026, we wish the Croatian national football team success, and we encourage viewers to follow match broadcasts exclusively through legal media channels. To this end, we are publishing a list of licensed media rights holders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, granted broadcasting rights directly by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and we invite interested viewers to use Agorateka to find legal digital sports content.

In addition, we encourage citizens to purchase original merchandise bearing the marks of the Croatian and other national teams participating in the World Cup, as this contributes to the funding of sporting activities. Counterfeit goods, besides infringing intellectual property rights, are typically of inferior quality and unverified safety, and may pose a risk to your health and safety.

❓ Do you consider whether you use legal sources of digital content and why that matters?

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