1. What is a counterfeit seizure? Why must it be handled with care?

Seizure for infringement is a non-adversarial procedure enabling the owner of a patent right to order the detailed description or actual seizure of allegedly infringing products or processes and any related documents.

This seizure may be accompanied by "a detailed description or actual seizure of the materials and instruments used to manufacture or distribute the products or to implement the allegedly infringing processes" (article L. 615-5 of Code de propriété intellectuelle ).

If the seizure requires the authorization of a judge, the order authorizing the seizure is issued on simple request and on presentation of either the patent or a certified copy of a patent application not yet granted (article R....