Piracy

Piracy in foreign trade refers to the unauthorized copying, sale, or distribution of copyright-protected products (such as software, films, music, books, etc.) without the permission of the copyright owner. It commonly appears in intellectual property infringement disputes, customs seizures, platform complaints, and contract breach claims. Notes: 1. Piracy differs from counterfeiting—the latter involves trademarks, while piracy involves copyright. 2. Enforcement varies greatly by country; European and American countries impose severe penalties, potentially including criminal charges. 3. In foreign trade, exporting pirated products can lead to customs confiscation and even blacklisting. 4. E-commerce platforms (e.g., Amazon) will directly remove listings and freeze accounts upon piracy complaints. Difference from 'parallel imports': Parallel imports are genuine goods sold through unauthorized channels, not piracy. Practitioners should ensure products have legal authorization, retain copyright certificates, and avoid infringement risks.