business with fake products and plagiarisms is booming. globalization, digital communication, the internet and gullible bargain hunters allow the counterfeiters multi-billions in earnings. the original producers’ damages are tremendous, and consumers unknowingly take serious risks. however, as long as there is demand for copied products, there will be adequate supply.

nowadays it is not only important to enthuse consumers with the original product – but at the same time – to convince them of the added value of the original product in comparison with a visually identical but substandard plagiarism – and to protect them from an unintended purchase of the last mentioned. a (too) low appreciation and respect for the product creator’s accomplishment in creating the original product is likewise responsible for the success of design plagiarisms and counterfeit products. a realistic information and sensitisation of the consumer world is crucial.

aktion plagiarius supports affected companies in this matter and combines the deterrence of the imitators (supply) and the sensitisation of the consumers (demand).

over the past decades the huge publicity of plagiarius has often accomplished a deterring effect and thus the participation at the competition has proven successful for many companies and designers. due to fear of public disgrace and bad publicity, many of the nominated imitators were seeking a settlement and have i.e. withdrawn their remaining stock from the market, signed cease and desist letters or revealed their suppliers.

furthermore, the participating companies send a clear signal that they refuse to accept counterfeits but rather consistently hold the imitators accountable for their unfair behaviour.

also, the multifaceted factual examples of brand- and product piracy are most important for the sensitisation of the public and the consumers.

the plagiarius-competition is announced for the 42nd time. since 1977, aktion plagiarius e.v. grants its anti-prize plagiarius 2018 to those manufacturers and distributors whom the jury has found guilty of making or selling “the most flagrant” (design) imitations and fakes. the goal is to denounce the unscrupulous business practices of counterfeiters who pilfer intellectual property and pass it off as their own creative achievement; as well as to raise public awareness of this complex problem that exists among industry, politicians and consumers. the black gnome with a golden nose trophy awarded is a symbol of the exorbitant earnings product pirates collect at the cost of innovative companies. this gnome was created to express the german aphorism “to earn oneself a golden nose” which means, “to earn a fortune”.

prior to evaluating submissions and selecting the “anti-prize winners”, aktion plagiarius notifies the imitator that he has been nominated and provides him with an opportunity to share his point of view. the annually changing plagiarius jury takes this response, in addition to general case-related information, into consideration during their evaluation.

designers and companies affected by plagiarisms are invited to register for the plagiarius competition 2018.

what needs to be submitted? registration deadline is 30 november 2017

– the original product (if the packaging has been copied, please provide that as well)
– the alleged plagiarism (incl. packaging)
– the filled in registration form (incl. signature)
– any correspondence with the imitator
– copies of ipr intellectual property registrations, if any registered
– any further information that may be helpful for the jury (short and concise)
all documents: 1 printed version sent by post and 1 version sent by email to info@plagiarius.com

on 9 february 2018 – the first day of the ambiente international consumer goods trade fair in frankfurt (germany) – the award ceremony / press conference of plagiarius 2018 will take place. all entries will be shown from february 09-13, 2018 in foyer 5.1 / 6.1 during the ambiente. afterwards the prize winner products will be shown in the museum plagiarius in solingen (germany) and at changing world-wide exhibitions.

registrations are welcome any time from now on. the registration form and the terms and conditions can be downloaded here.

for further information please contact christine lacroix at info@plagiarius.com or by phone +49(0)7308 / 922 422.