UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants

What UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants does

UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 1872 by pharmacists, recognized as being of public utility since 1877 and re-confirmed by decree in 1977. It serves approximately 200 corporate members spanning luxury goods (Chanel, Hermès, LVMH, Louis Vuitton Malletier, Richemont, Kering, Walt Disney), automotive (Renault, Stellantis, Peugeot Frères, Michelin), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi, Ipsen), consumer goods (L'Oréal, Lacoste, Sephora, Pernod Ricard, Bic), technology (Apple, Samsung, Nike), and eyewear (Essilor-Luxottica), providing them with anti-counterfeiting operational services, policy advocacy, and an international enforcement network across 30+ countries.

The association's core service portfolio is anchored by UnifabServices, an operational offering comprising customs intervention request filing and renewal, indirect and direct product authentication, training of French customs/police/gendarmarie/DGCCRF officers, and confidential complaint filing on behalf of members. It also operates Unifab Lab, a curated technology exchange that connects IP professionals with both online partners (blockchain, AI-based image recognition, online surveillance — including Navee, Marqvision, Entrupy, Corsearch, Certilane, Brand Monitor, Webdrone) and offline partners (labels, authentication — Edgyn, Scribos). International operations are delivered through wholly-owned regional offices in Beijing and Tokyo, which handle Asia-Pacific enforcement, customs seizure requests, and legislative monitoring. Consumer-facing assets include the contrefaçon.fr digital tool (launched with INPI in July 2026), the Musée de la Contrefaçon in Paris, the annual FEPI European Intellectual Property Forum (30th edition in March 2026), and subscription-based RIPIA law review. Marketing and awareness channels span JCDecaux outdoor (500+ locations), Meta/social platform partnerships, and recurring seasonal campaigns.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through recurring annual membership dues from the 200+ corporate members, supplemented by publication subscriptions (RIPIA), museum operations, event fees (FEPI), and partner contributions. The organization is member-governed: Christian Peugeot (Peugeot Frères) serves as President, Delphine Sarfati-Sobreira as Director General, with VPs from LVMH, Hermès, and Fusalp, and a Secretary General from L'Oréal. Headcount is approximately 26 staff across the Paris headquarters, Beijing, Tokyo, and museum operations. Historically, UNIFAB participated in drafting the Paris Convention (1883) and Madrid Arrangement (1891) and co-founded INPI in 1951, providing the institutional gravitas that underpins its current regulatory and convening authority.

Name

UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants

Legal name

UNIFAB – L'Union des Fabricants pour la protection internationale de la propriété intellectuelle

Website

https://unifab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNIFAB is a 150+ year-old French non-profit association (recognized as public utility since 1877) providing anti-counterfeiting operational services, policy advocacy, and an international expert network to approximately 200 corporate members across luxury, automotive, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and technology sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: UNIFAB generates revenue through membership fees from approximately 200 companies and professional federations from all business sectors. Members include major luxury brands, automotive, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and technology companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UNIFAB is a French non-profit association that provides operational anti-counterfeiting services to approximately 200 corporate members across luxury, automotive, pharmaceutical, technology, and consumer goods sectors. Its core offering, UnifabServices, delivers customs intervention request filing, direct and indirect product authentication, public authority training, and confidential complaint filing. The association also runs Unifab Lab, a technology exchange forum, and operates the Musée de la Contrefaçon in Paris.

Product overview

UNIFAB (Union des Fabricants) is a French non-profit association founded in 1872, recognized as being of public utility, focused on intellectual property protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts. The organization offers a portfolio of services centered on UnifabServices - an operational anti-counterfeiting service providing intervention requests with customs, public authority training, product authentication (indirect and direct), and confidential complaint filing. International support is provided through Beijing and Tokyo offices. The Unifab Lab serves as a technology solutions forum connecting IP professionals with both online partners (for digital brand protection, surveillance, blockchain-based authentication) and offline partners (for physical authentication labels). The organization operates the Musée de la Contrefaçon as a public education tool, publishes RIPIA (an IP law review), produces analysis and reports on counterfeiting trends, and organizes the annual FEPI European IP Forum. Consumer-facing digital tools include the contrefaçon.fr platform developed with INPI for counterfeit detection. The organization also runs annual consumer awareness campaigns and awards programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UnifabServices Customized operational anti-counterfeiting service for member companies whose products are victims of counterfeiting. Bundles customs intervention request filing, public authority training, product authentication (indirect and direct), and confidential complaint filing. Available to UNIFAB's approximately 200 member companies across luxury, automotive, pharmaceutical, technology, and consumer goods sectors.
• Customs Intervention Request Service Standalone service for filing, registering, and annually renewing customs intervention requests covering industrial property rights with French customs (DGDDI). Used by member companies to enable customs to seize counterfeit goods at the border.
• Public Authority Training Standalone training programs for French Customs, Police, Gendarmerie, and DGCCRF operational services on product authentication and counterfeit detection techniques. Buyers are public-sector enforcement bodies and member companies seeking to deepen enforcement knowledge.
• Product Authentication Two-mode authentication service: indirect authentication (UNIFAB transmits information to companies for verification) and direct authentication (UNIFAB authenticates seized counterfeit goods after prior training). For member companies needing expert verification of suspected counterfeits.
• Complaint Filing Confidential counterfeiting complaint filing with competent public authorities on behalf of member companies, supporting legal action against counterfeiters.
• Unifab Lab Technology exchange platform/forum enabling IP professionals to discuss needs, strategies, and existing technology solutions for combating counterfeits. Aggregates online (blockchain, AI image recognition, surveillance) and offline (labels, authentication) technology partners. Available to IP professionals and UNIFAB members.
• Unifab Beijing Office On-the-ground office in Beijing, China, defending UNIFAB members' interests in Asia, supporting procedures with local authorities, and monitoring counterfeit legislation developments.
• Unifab Tokyo Office On-the-ground office in Tokyo, Japan, defending UNIFAB members' interests in Asia, supporting activities with Japanese administration, and providing visibility into the Asian zone.
• Musée de la Contrefaçon (Museum of Counterfeiting) Publicly accessible museum dedicated to educating visitors about counterfeiting, located at 16 rue de la Faisanderie in Paris. Open Monday-Friday 2pm-7:30pm and mornings by appointment. Showcases counterfeit products across sectors.
• RIPIA (Revue Internationale de la Propriété Industrielle et Artistique) Subscription-based international review of industrial and artistic property that curates significant court rulings on intellectual property matters across all business sectors. For IP professionals, lawyers, and academics.
• Contrefaçon.fr Digital Tool Consumer-facing web tool co-developed with INPI under the France Anti-Contrefaçon initiative. Provides interactive 3D models, sector-specific guidance, and quizzes to help consumers identify counterfeit products.
• Analysis & Reports Publications Catalog of UNIFAB reports and analyses on counterfeiting, covering organized crime links (e.g., the 2025 Rapport criminalité organisée et contrefaçon), consumer perception studies, EUIPO collaborations, and position papers on IP protection.
• FEPI (Forum Européen de la Propriété Intellectuelle) Annual European Intellectual Property Forum organized by UNIFAB, gathering more than 350 IP professionals to discuss geopolitics, legislation, and technology influences on IP. The 30th edition was held March 26-27, 2026 in Paris.
• Unifab Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence in intellectual property protection, including Best Court Decision awards presented at the European IP Forum.
• International College of Experts Network Network of affiliated law firms and IP experts across 30+ countries, covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, providing members with on-the-ground international IP protection support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 21 million counterfeit products intercepted by French customs in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Indicam (Italian Anti-Counterfeiting Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2026Transborder cooperation for consumer awareness - UNIFAB extended its 2026 summer campaign to Sanremo, Italy in partnership with Indicam and local public authorities to promote anti-counterfeiting awareness on the Italian Riviera.
• INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB collaborates with INPI on multiple initiatives including France Anti-Contrefaçon program, the IFOP consumer perception study on counterfeiting, and the digital tool for consumers to detect counterfeits (contrefaçon.fr). INPI participates in UNIFAB's consumer awareness campaigns and events.
• CNAC (Comité National Anti-Contrefaçon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Anti-Counterfeiting Committee works with UNIFAB on joint consumer awareness campaigns, annual events, and coordination of anti-counterfeiting efforts in France.
• French Customs (DGDDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB cooperates with French customs authorities for training of customs officers, customs intervention requests for members, and joint public awareness campaigns. In 2024, French customs seized over 21 million counterfeit products.
• French Police and GendarmeriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB organizes training sessions for police and gendarmerie operational services for product authentication and counterfeit detection. Joint participation in consumer awareness campaigns.
• EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB participates in EUIPO events including the Blockathon prize ceremony in Brussels and EUIPO plenary sessions in Alicante. Collaborates on reports and studies related to counterfeiting and IP enforcement.
• JCDecauxmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for outdoor advertising campaigns displaying anti-counterfeiting messages on 500+ urban advertising locations across France, including airports and major police/gendarmerie installations.
• GACG (Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational anti-counterfeiting network where UNIFAB participates in annual conferences (20th anniversary in Copenhagen), GACG Awards, and governance. UNIFAB presented new governance strategy for better defense of IP rights internationally.
• IFOPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench polling institute conducts annual consumer perception studies on counterfeiting for UNIFAB and INPI, providing data on counterfeiting prevalence, consumer behavior, and awareness levels.
• ALPA (Association de Lutte contre la Piraterie Audiovisuelle)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench audiovisual anti-piracy association partners with UNIFAB on consumer awareness campaigns, including joint campaign with Meta launching internet awareness campaign on counterfeiting and piracy.
• Meta (Facebook)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint internet awareness campaign with UNIFAB and ALPA on counterfeiting and piracy prevention. Meta provides platform support for reaching consumers with anti-counterfeiting messaging.
• Amazon, eBay, Vide DressingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB met with major e-commerce platforms (Amazon, eBay, Vide Dressing) to discuss cooperation on anti-counterfeiting efforts and platform policies.
• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIFAB participates in WIPO's Advisory Committee on Enforcement meetings, contributing to international discussions on IP enforcement and technical assistance coordination.
• WCO (World Customs Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational customs body publishes annual reports on customs seizures of counterfeit goods; UNIFAB references WCO data in its reports and cooperates on international enforcement efforts.
• FEPI (Forum Européen de la Propriété Intellectuelle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual European Intellectual Property Forum organized by UNIFAB, bringing together 350+ IP professionals. 30th anniversary held March 2026 in Paris with themes on geopolitics, legislation, and technology influences on IP.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indicam (Italian Anti-Counterfeiting Association): Italy's main anti-counterfeiting association; UNIFAB has a documented cross-border partnership with Indicam (2026 summer campaign). Direct functional peer in another major European market.
• AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property): Worldwide non-profit IP association bringing together practitioners, academics and rights holders; closely comparable to UNIFAB in its membership-driven model and focus on international IP policy and enforcement.
• CNAC (Comité National Anti-Contrefaçon): France's National Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, a French government-coordinated body that partners with UNIFAB on consumer awareness and enforcement. Closest domestic public-sector peer in mission and stakeholder base.
• INTA (International Trademark Association): Global membership association of brand owners and trademark professionals; the most direct international peer to UNIFAB in the IP rights and anti-counterfeiting space, serving a comparable corporate member base.
• MARQUES (Association of European Trade Mark Owners): European association representing brand owners on trade mark and design law; a near-analog in terms of corporate membership, regional scope and anti-counterfeiting advocacy.
• GACG (Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group): International network of national anti-counterfeiting associations; UNIFAB is itself a member. Closely comparable in mission, member base and focus on cross-border enforcement coordination.

Emerging players

• Corsearch: IP and brand protection services firm listed as a Unifab Lab partner; competes with UNIFAB in online monitoring, trademark watching and anti-counterfeiting for global brand owners.
• Red Points: Technology-driven brand and IP protection platform offering automated counterfeit detection and removal; competes with UNIFAB's online anti-counterfeiting scope using a pure software/SaaS model.
• Entrupy: AI/computer-vision authentication provider for luxury goods and other IP-sensitive products; a Unifab Lab partner that directly addresses the physical counterfeit authentication work UNIFAB performs for members.
• Marqvision: AI-powered brand-protection and anti-counterfeiting platform listed as a Unifab Lab partner. Overlaps with UNIFAB on online counterfeit detection, takedown and brand monitoring for the same enterprise customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unifab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unifab---union-des-fabricants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UNIFAB - Union des Fabricants