The official page for the @The_IPO’s counter-infringement work. Follow us to learn about IP crime and infringement and the threats it poses to the UK.

Joined March 2014
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Welcome to the Intellectual Property Office’s counter-infringement Twitter hub! We will share updates from @The_IPO's partnership work and showcase educational campaigns. Follow to learn about the fight against IP crime, for advice on spotting fake goods and why to avoid them.
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acob Knight, founder of Knight Vintage in Cardiff shares his top tips for spotting a fake. Follow the expert tips and check: ✔️ Stitching ✔️ Labels ✔️ Fabrics For more tips, including what to look out for online, read our guidance at the link in our bio. #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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Second-hand is smart, safe and sustainable – but shoppers are still being caught out by fakes. Our Second-hand, not Second Best campaign to help people shop with confidence. 👉 bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe… #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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New figures showing nearly 60% of shoppers who unknowingly bought a fake suffered negative outcomes, from poor quality and deterioration to refund battles. Second hand offers an affordable sustainable option for finding designer. More from @WTR_Alerts: worldtrademarkreview.com/art…
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We teamed up with Vintage Wholesale Store in Cardiff to show how second-hand fashion can be affordable and reliable. From sourcing to sale, it’s all about quality, care and confidence. #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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Learn ‘How to spot fake fashion when shopping second-hand’ by following this link to our guidance: gov.uk/government/publicatio…
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Thrilled to get the @PRCA_HQ judges’ feedback following our award wins: ✔️ Praised for the thoughtful delivery of our fake flea treatment campaign ✔️ Commended for strong use of data, insight & case studies ✔️ #FakeToysRealHarms recognised for driving meaningful action & results
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Second-hand shopping is growing, and so is our work to protect it. We’re partnering with platforms and retailers to: ✅ strengthen safeguards ✅ support authentic sellers ✅ help shoppers avoid fakes Find out how to shop safely: bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe… #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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A double win for the IPO at the @PRCA_HQ DARE Awards 🏆🏆 We were shortlisted in two categories - Media Relations for counterfeit flea treatments and Public Sector for Fake Toys, Real Harms. Winning either would’ve been great, so taking both was something special!
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On LBC News, Dean Duncan highlighted our latest guidance helping consumers spot fake goods sold on second hand platforms. He explained your rights to refund if you have bought a fake under the Consumer Protection Act and what to do next. Read more: bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe…
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.@The_IPO is proud to be attending at @WIPO ACE 18 Director of Enforcement & Intelligence, Andy Cooke-Welling delivered an opening statement yesterday on behalf of the UK. Head of Campaigns Mike Bastin also shared how we've built an evidence-led model to build respect for IP.
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Jacob Knight, founder of Knight Vintage in Cardiff build his shop entirely on trust and expertise. Jacob has spent years developing an eye for spotting fakes. Our #SecondHandNotSecondBest campaign celebrates finding genuine second-hand. Find out more: bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe…
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💪Build your knowledge of IP crime online and strengthen your IP protection by working with platforms. The IP Crime Group's upcoming knowledge shares are designed to help you work effectively with online platforms. 👇 Sign up links in comments
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IPO Counter-Infringement retweeted
Choose quality, value and confidence, not fakes. Pre-loved fashion gives you authentic style, better value and pieces that last. Support the new @IPOEnforcement campaign helping shoppers spot counterfeits online. 👉 bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe… #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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👖New IPO figures show 1 in 4 shoppers unknowingly bought a counterfeit last year. Our research found that 1 in 3 admitted they don’t check authenticity before making a purchase. That's why we've launched new guidance to help you shop safely. Read more: gov.uk/government/news/shop-…
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Why waste money on fakes? Authentic pre-loved clothing offers better quality, real resale value and long-term savings – while counterfeits often don’t last. We’re supporting second-hand platforms to help you shop with confidence 👇 bit.ly/SecondHandNotSecondBe… #SecondHandNotSecondBest
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Following our confirmation of three year funding for @CityPolicePIPCU, our Enforcement team and CEO Adam Williams met to sign the 2026-27 Service Agreement. It was great to meet with @AllianceIP and Sky as we develop public and private partnerships to tackle IP crime effectively.
Yesterday we were pleased to welcomed Adam Williams, CEO of the Intellectual Property Office UK, to PIPCU together with Ritwik Deo, Kate Caffery LLB, Dexter Lewis, Nathan Price and Mark Alleman. They joined us for an update on PIPCU’s work and sat in with one of our operational
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IPO Counter-Infringement retweeted
Thank you to @CityPolicePIPCU for hosting our CEO Adam Williams at HQ this week, marking the next phase of our partnership. We’ve confirmed a 3 year funding commitment, with the 2026–27 Service Agreement signed as the first step, continuing our commitment to tackling IP crime.
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