How can I defend my rights?

Are you the owner of a trade mark, design or patent? Have you discovered that your goods are being counterfeited?
If so, there are three ways you can defend your rights in Switzerland. Contact the following institutions:

 

Police

Report the incident to the police: the commercial sale of counterfeit and pirated goods is punishable with a custodial sentence and a monetary penalty. You can find more information on this topic on the website of the police.

 

Court

Go to court: the court rules on compensation for damages, reparation and recovery of profits, as well as on any potential punishment for the perpetrators. The court can also help you remove the counterfeit goods from circulation and obtain more details on the fake goods (i.e. origin, quantity etc.). For court proceedings, we recommend you seek legal advice. More information on legal advice is available at the website of the Swiss Bar Association.

 

Customs

Request assistance from customs: as a rights holder in Switzerland, you can prohibit the import, export and transit of counterfeit copies of your goods. At your request, customs officials will check parcels and luggage for counterfeit goods and withhold them. In this way, counterfeits are intercepted at the border before entering the country.


You can find more information on this topic on the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security website.

 

Copyright

Is someone infringing your copyright? Then you can take action against such an infringement by exercising your copyright (Art. 10 CopA).

 

Jobs

 

Jobs