The counterfeit and fake goods business is booming: globalization, the internet and gullible bargain hunters enable counterfeiters to generate global sales and billions in profits. According to the Plagiarius campaign, the damage to original manufacturers is enormous, as are the dangers for consumers. Since 1977, it has aimed to raise public and consumer awareness by publicizing practical examples of product and brand piracy. The award of the negative prize is intended to deter plagiarists on the one hand and educate consumers about their actions on the other.

Companies, designers and inventors are now invited to nominate alleged imitators of their product as winners of the Negative Award. The deadline for the 2016 round of the competition is November 30, 2016.

The following must be submitted

• the original product (if the packaging was copied in the original packaging)
• the alleged plagiarism including packaging
• the completed registration form (1 x printed out, 1 x by email to [email protected])
• the correspondence already entered into with the plagiarist
• the copies of registered property rights (documents), if registered
• if necessary, brief and precise further background information that could be helpful to the jury

The 'Plagiarius 2017' negative award will be presented at a press conference on February 10, 2017 at the Ambiente consumer goods fair, which will be held in Frankfurt from February 10 to 14, 2017. All submitted originals and plagiarisms will be prominently displayed in Foyer 5.1 / 6.1 during the trade fair. Afterwards, the Plagiarius campaign will present the winning objects to a wide audience, including at the museum of the same name in Solingen and at traveling exhibitions around the world.

According to the campaign, participation in the competition - in addition to legal prosecution - has proved successful for many of those affected: the fear of public embarrassment has already prompted many a plagiarist to take remaining stock off the market, sign a cease-and-desist declaration or reveal their suppliers.