Blog 8th Oct 2024

Investigate the Source: Uncover the People & Organizations Behind IP Infringement

Brand Protection
Content Protection
Trademark Solutions

In today’s increasingly connected and digital world, global brands face a growing number of threats that can compromise their integrity, erode consumer trust, and impact the bottom line. Critical to stopping these threats is the ability to find and stop them at source.

Counterfeiting, impersonation, and gray market threats are more prevalent and sophisticated than ever before, presenting significant risks to companies and consumers. Read on to learn how comprehensive investigations combine with data collected online to provide a critical tool to identify and disrupt illicit activities.

Finding the source of counterfeits, brand impersonation & gray market threats

Brands today face an array of escalating threats. Counterfeit products now account for an estimated 3.3% of global trade, undermining industries like consumer goods, electronics, and luxury items. These fake products erode customer trust, devalue brands, and — particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare — pose serious health and safety risks. Many large counterfeiting operations are linked with organized crime, requiring the combined forces of brand protection investigators and law enforcement to take them down.

Gray market goods, disrupt pricing strategies, undercut authorized sellers, and complicate customer service and warranty claims. This creates confusion, dilutes your brand value, and weakens relationships with trusted distributors. The sources of supply chain leakages and unauthorized distribution can be spread across borders and jurisdiction, necessitating the support of a team of global investigators.

In addition, the rise of brand confusion, deception and impersonation scams—further compounds the challenge. Deception in all its forms, damages your brand reputation and can also lead to financial losses and legal complications. Uncovering the bad actors behind these operations can be a difficult task, requiring the expertise of trained investigators.

Investigations provide the actionable intelligence needed to combat counterfeiting, gray market distribution, and brand impersonation at source, allowing brands to proactively defend their value, reputation, and consumer trust. Without them, your business remains vulnerable to ongoing and increasingly multi-layered attacks.

The need for actionable, global investigations

Facing threats that stretch across international borders and involve a wide range of actors, from organized crime to rogue manufacturers, many companies are realizing that traditional brand protection measures aren’t enough.

Online monitoring and takedown strategies provide a wealth of data that can feed into a broader strategy for brand protection.

A proactive, integrated strategy can use data and broader intelligence to identify the key players behind illicit activities to disrupt their operations. This is where investigative services come into play. Comprehensive investigations can provide the intelligence necessary to tackle the sources of counterfeiting and brand abuse.

However, not all investigations are created equal. For global brands, the right investigative solution must be customizable, scalable, and capable of navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscapes of multiple jurisdictions. It should also provide actionable insights, so companies can make informed decisions, facilitate law enforcement raids, and pursue legal action when necessary.

Introducing Corsearch’s expert online-to-offline service: Investigations 360

In response to these growing challenges, Corsearch has developed a new Investigations service, designed to empower brands to detect and disrupt counterfeiting and revenue leakage at source. Whether you’re dealing with counterfeit goods, impersonation and other forms of IP infringement, or gray market challenges, our Investigations 360 solution offers the tools and expertise you need to safeguard your brand in an increasingly complex world.

At the core of this offering is our global network of dedicated investigators, stationed in over 100 countries, ready to provide real-world, actionable intelligence. Our team doesn’t just help you respond to threats; we help you find and stop them at their source by uncovering the people, places, and networks behind the counterfeit operations.

Here’s how we can help:

Actionable intelligence: Our investigations service provides clear, data-driven reports that deliver insights into the operations behind counterfeiting, IP theft, and gray market activities. You’ll receive detailed intelligence that allows you to take fast, informed action.
Global reach, local expertise: With a presence in over 100 countries, our investigations team operates globally, but with an understanding of local legal environments and enforcement protocols. This ensures that our efforts are both wide-reaching and finely tuned to the markets where you face the greatest risks.
Real-world action: Beyond intelligence gathering, our team facilitates test purchasing, infiltration reports, and even criminal raids by law enforcement, coordinating enforcement actions that lead to the disruption of illicit operations. Whether online or offline, we provide the expertise and support needed to turn intelligence into action.
Customizable packages: Every brand is different, and so are the threats they face. That’s why we offer three levels of investigative support, ranging from foundational assistance to comprehensive multi-jurisdictional investigations. Choose the package that best fits your needs or combine them for a tailored solution that evolves with your brand.

Experience Corsearch Investigations 360

With Corsearch, you can combine data with our expert team of investigators to stay ahead of threats and safeguard both your business and your consumers. We offer a comprehensive investigations solution tailored to your specific needs.

Take the next step in securing your brand online and offline. Talk to one of our experts today.

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