Enforcement & Anti-Counterfeiting

Intellectual Property

Protect Your Brand and Enforce Your IP Rights

If someone is copying your products, selling counterfeits, or infringing your intellectual property, you need to act quickly and strategically. Gurve Legal provides IP enforcement and anti-counterfeiting advice to businesses in London and across the UK, helping SMEs and owner-managed businesses take decisive action to protect what they have built.

Counterfeiting is no longer just a problem for large brands. With online marketplaces and social media making it easier than ever to copy and sell infringing goods, businesses of every size are at risk. Whether your trade mark is being misused, your designs are being copied, or counterfeit versions of your products are circulating online, we can help you identify the right enforcement strategy and act on it.

We advise brand owners seeking to stop infringement, and we also act for businesses and individuals who have been accused of counterfeiting or intellectual property infringement. That dual perspective gives us a commercial understanding of the full picture that most firms simply cannot offer.

Book a Free Consultation

Our IP Enforcement and Anti-Counterfeiting Services

Cease and Desist Letters and Demand Notices

In many cases, a well-drafted letter from a solicitor is enough to stop infringement quickly and cost-effectively. We draft clear, targeted cease and desist notices that set out your rights, the infringement, and the consequences of non-compliance. For businesses that have received a demand letter, we provide rapid advice on how to respond and whether the claims have merit.

Cease and desist letters to infringers and counterfeiters
Responding to cease and desist demands on your behalf
Pre-action correspondence and negotiation
Demand letters for damages and account of profits

Online Marketplace and Social Media Takedowns

A significant proportion of counterfeiting now takes place on platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and social media channels. We manage the takedown process across these platforms, using their own notice-and-takedown procedures to remove infringing listings swiftly. For businesses facing large-scale or repeat infringement online, we can help implement a systematic brand monitoring and enforcement programme. Our trade mark solicitors and IP disputes team work closely together on these matters.

Amazon Brand Registry complaints and takedown notices
eBay VeRO programme notifications
Social media platform takedown requests
Repeat infringer escalation strategies
Brand monitoring programme advice

Customs Registration and Border Enforcement

Registering your intellectual property rights with UK customs authorities empowers Border Force to intercept and seize counterfeit goods before they reach the market. We prepare and file Applications for Action with HMRC, and advise on the equivalent procedures for EU markets. Given the post-Brexit separation of UK and EU enforcement regimes, it is increasingly important for businesses to register rights in both jurisdictions separately.

HMRC Applications for Action (customs recordals)
EU customs enforcement registration advice
Liaison with UK Border Force on detained goods
Post-Brexit dual UK and EU enforcement strategy

Civil Litigation and Court Proceedings

Where infringement is serious or ongoing, court proceedings may be the most effective route. We issue proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) and the High Court, seeking injunctions to stop the infringement, delivery up and destruction of counterfeit goods, and financial remedies including damages. Our dispute resolution team handles IP enforcement litigation alongside specialist IP counsel where required.

Interim and final injunctions
Search and seizure orders (including doorstep orders)
Website blocking injunction applications
Damages and account of profits claims
IPEC and High Court proceedings

Trading Standards and Criminal Enforcement

For the most serious cases of counterfeiting, criminal routes may be appropriate alongside or instead of civil action. We liaise with Trading Standards officers across the UK, provide witness statements to support criminal prosecutions, and advise on private criminal proceedings against counterfeiters. We can also advise individuals or businesses under investigation by Trading Standards.

Trading Standards liaison and referrals
Section 9 witness statements for prosecutions
Private criminal prosecution advice
Advising those under Trading Standards investigation

IP Audit and Enforcement Strategy

Before taking action, it is essential to understand what intellectual property rights you actually hold and which are enforceable. We work with businesses to audit their IP portfolio, identify gaps in protection, and build a practical enforcement strategy tailored to their budget and commercial objectives. This is particularly valuable for growing businesses and those entering new markets. Our broader intellectual property services cover registration and protection as well as enforcement.

IP portfolio review and gap analysis
Prioritised enforcement strategy advice
Budget-conscious enforcement planning for SMEs
Ongoing IP protection programme management

Speak to Our Team About Your IP Rights

Why Choose Gurve Legal

We Act for Both Sides

We advise brand owners enforcing their IP rights and businesses that have been accused of infringement or counterfeiting. This dual experience means we understand how enforcement actions are likely to play out, what opposing arguments look like, and how to build the strongest possible case for our clients whichever side of the dispute they are on. It is an advantage that few firms of our size can offer.

Commercial Advice for SMEs and Owner-Managed Businesses

IP enforcement can be costly if it is not approached strategically. We work with SMEs and owner-managed businesses to identify the most commercially effective enforcement route, whether that is a targeted takedown, a well-worded demand letter, or court proceedings. We focus on protecting your brand and your revenue without unnecessary litigation, and we are straight with you about costs and prospects from the outset.

Full-Service IP Support Under One Roof

IP enforcement works best when it is backed by solid registered rights. Our team covers the full spectrum of intellectual property law, including trade mark registration, design rights, copyright, and trade secrets protection. Whether you need to strengthen your existing portfolio before taking action or enforce rights you already hold, we can support you at every stage.

Responsive and Practical Legal Advice

Counterfeiting and IP infringement rarely wait for a convenient moment. We provide practical, commercially focused advice and move quickly when time is critical. Our clients are business owners and decision-makers who need clear guidance, not legal complexity. We explain your options plainly, advise on the approach most likely to achieve your objectives, and get to work without delay.

Speak to Our IP Enforcement Team Today

If your intellectual property rights are being infringed or your brand is under threat from counterfeit goods, do not delay in taking action. The sooner you move, the more options you have. Contact Gurve Legal for straightforward advice on how to protect your business.