Counterfeiting Is a $460 Billion Economy Feeding Organized Crime

Counterfeiting generates $460 billion globally — a sum comparable to the GDP of an entire country — and the money funds organized crime, not sympathetic outlaws. Piotr Strysowski, Unit Head for the Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade at the OECD, delivered that figure on July 8 at an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC), which brought together leaders from intellectual property enforcement, trade, and professional sports.

"That's the scale of the GDP of a country," Strysowski said. "It's not a jackpot in a lottery, it's humongous, and this money doesn't go to the Robin Hoods of today's world. It goes to organized crime."

The timing was deliberate. This summer's international soccer tournament has turned fan zones into open-air bazaars of jerseys, scarves, hats, and boots bearing the world's most recognizable sports brands — and a significant share of that merchandise is fake. The theft is not from a factory or a store but from the brand owner whose intellectual property the products copy.

The consumer risk is concrete. Counterfeit products undergo no testing for chemical or material safety. The purchase price flows to criminal enterprises rather than to the teams, designers, and legitimate manufacturers behind the original goods.

A crime with many victims

"Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime," said Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. "It funds organized crime, it puts unsafe products in the hands of consumers, and it undermines every company that plays by the rules."

Counterfeiters have grown more sophisticated as global sporting events drive demand for licensed merchandise. They exploit e-commerce platforms, social media, and loopholes in complicated supply chains to reach customers faster. Artificial intelligence has accelerated their pace and lowered the barriers to producing convincing fakes.

The cost structure gives counterfeiters a structural advantage. Priest explained that honest businesses spend significant resources meeting safety standards, customs requirements, and other legal obligations — expenses counterfeiters evade entirely.

"You have to have a sophisticated response, and you have to have good partners," Priest said.

Platforms step up

Rob Garrett, Principal Investigations Manager for Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit, outlined the company's four-part strategy: protective seller and listing controls, advanced technology, holding bad actors accountable, and educating consumers before they become victims. He highlighted Brand Registry and Project Zero, programs that help brands identify and remove counterfeit listings even if they do not sell products directly on Amazon.

The programs have produced enforcement results. In a recent case, investigators dismantled a sophisticated network of counterfeit sellers using information provided by Amazon's Brand Registry system, triggering coordinated enforcement across several jurisdictions.

Garrett emphasized that success depends on collaboration among brands, e-commerce platforms, and law enforcement.

Steve Francis, President and Chair of IP House and former Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, framed the shared burden in blunter terms. Cooperation, he argued, is one of the key elements of successful brand protection.

"Every organization in this room plays a really important role, and none of us could do it alone," Francis said. "We are all in this together."

The threat has gone digital

The problem no longer stops at physical merchandise. Sarah Austin, General Counsel for USA Track & Field, said sports organizations must now protect everything from sponsorships and broadcast rights to digital content and trademarks.

"Most threats are now on a digital basis," Austin said. "We have a team making sure that our brand is being represented correctly."

Donald Fishman, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Washington Capitals, drew the same line.

"It's not just stopping a counterfeit jersey anymore," Fishman said. "It's protecting the moments and the images."

GIPC Executive Director Jaci McDole and Senior Vice President Rick Wade detailed the range of threats facing sports IP in 2026 in a recent piece: criminal networks exploit major sporting events at every level, from counterfeit merchandise to illegal streaming and digital piracy.

What comes next

Intellectual property protection, the event's speakers agreed, must now move beyond reactive enforcement toward proactive coordination among manufacturers, online marketplaces, law enforcement, policymakers, brands, and consumers. The U.S. Chamber says it is committed to keeping the conversation going, arguing that safeguarding innovation and keeping trust as the foundation of the marketplace requires every stakeholder — from manufacturers and retailers to platforms and buyers — to play a role. With AI cutting the cost of producing convincing fakes, that united front is likely to be tested again before the next global tournament arrives.