On October 20-21, 2026, 163 prosecutors and experts from over 30 countries joined the inaugural WIPO Global Forum for IP Prosecutors to explore how to more effectively investigate and prosecute intellectual property (IP) crime cases when goods, evidence and those behind it are located in different countries. Drawing on cases involving counterfeiting and piracy, they examined investigative techniques, difficulties in bringing cases to court and cooperation across national borders.
IP enforcement is not just about money and trade, but also about lives and health. Yet while IP crime is increasingly international, legal and prosecutorial authority remains grounded in each country's national law, institutions and safeguards built up over time. Our goal here is not to erase those differences, but to make cooperation between countries and between systems more practical and more effective
said WIPO Director General Daren Tang in his opening remarks.
Director General Tang also highlighted the public health threat posed by counterfeit medicines and the complexity of pursuing criminal networks operating across jurisdictions. He stressed the value of understanding how other legal systems work and knowing whom to contact when a case crosses borders.
Investigating and prosecuting IP crime
The discussions covered both investigation and prosecution, examining how to gather intelligence from publicly available information and social media, seek assistance from authorities abroad and prosecute criminal trademark counterfeiting and copyright infringement. Participants also learned how to evaluate trade secret theft cases for prosecution.
For online investigations, the program covered emerging challenges such as residential proxies, which route internet traffic through residential connections. Case studies and group workshops allowed prosecutors to compare investigative techniques and approaches under different national legal frameworks.
The Forum was organized by WIPO’s Building Respect for IP Division. Discussions were held under the Chatham House Rule to encourage open and candid exchanges about prosecutorial strategies and operational difficulties. The inaugural event also sought to build professional relationships that prosecutors can draw on in cross-border cases.
