Draft:Corsearch

Overview

Corsearch is a global provider of trademark and brand protection solutions in the intellectual property sector. Founded with a mission of partnering with brands to protect consumers from confusion, misrepresentation and fraud, Corsearch offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services designed to safeguard trademarks, combat online counterfeiting, and enforce IP rights. The company's purpose is to protect consumers and their trust in brands, ensuring that what they buy, or experience meets their expectations. Corsearch achieves this through the innovative application of technology, such as AI, and the expertise of its professionals, emphasizing the importance of trust, passion, and collaboration.

Headquartered in New York City and London, the company operates globally with a network of offices and partners to deliver localized expertise and support.

History

Corsearch was initially founded as a traditional trademark research company, specializing in manual trademark searching and monitoring services. It then began to incorporate digital technologies into its operations, leading to the development of proprietary databases and search tools that significantly improved the efficiency and scope of its trademark services.  

Over the decades, Corsearch established a reputation for accuracy and reliability, becoming a trusted partner for businesses and law firms seeking to protect their trademarks. The advent of the internet and the digital economy in the 1990s and early 2000s prompted Corsearch to expand its offerings to include online brand protection and anti-piracy solutions.

Ownership

In 2018, Wolters Kluwer sold Corsearch to the private equity firm Audax Group in a $140 million deal. A year later, in 2019, Corsearch received an investment from Yukon Partners, though the details of the transaction were not disclosed. In April 2021, Astorg Partners acquired Corsearch from Audax Private Equity, with Cobepa SA, an independent investment company based in Brussels, also investing alongside Astorg.

Acquisitions

During the 2010s, Corsearch embarked on a series of strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities and expand its global footprint. Notable acquisitions include:

• TrademarkNow: In 2020, Corsearch acquired TrademarkNow, a leading provider of AI-powered trademark search and watch services. This acquisition bolstered Corsearch's technological capabilities, enabling more sophisticated and efficient trademark management.

• Yellow Brand Protection: In 2018, Corsearch acquired Yellow Brand Protection, a prominent firm specializing in online brand protection and anti-counterfeiting services. This acquisition allowed Corsearch to offer comprehensive solutions for combating online infringement and counterfeiting.

• Pointer Brand Protection: In 2020, Corsearch acquired Pointer Brand Protection, further strengthening its position in the brand protection and anti-piracy markets.

• Incopro: In 2021, Corsearch acquired Incopro, a global leader in online brand and content protection. Incopro's advanced technology and expertise in online brand protection enhanced Corsearch's ability to provide robust anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting solutions.

These acquisitions and the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have transformed Corsearch into a holistic IP management and brand protection powerhouse. The company's services now cover the entire lifecycle of trademark and brand management, from initial search and clearance to ongoing monitoring and enforcement.

In recent years, Corsearch has continued to innovate and expand its service offerings, reflecting its commitment to adapting to the ever-evolving challenges of IP protection in the digital age. The company's focus on leveraging technology to enhance service delivery has positioned it as a leader in the industry, providing robust and scalable solutions to a diverse clientele.

Summary of Acquisitions

• Yellow Brand Protection (2018)

• Principium Strategies (2019)

• Pointer Brand Protection (2020)

• TrademarkNow (2020)

• Marketly (2020)

• Syngience (2021)

• Entura International (2021)

• Incopro (2021)

Services

Corsearch's extensive service portfolio is designed to address various aspects of intellectual property management and brand protection:

Trademark services: Comprehensive trademark services to manage the entire lifecycle of a trademark. These include:

• Trademark clearance: Evaluating new trademarks to ensure they do not infringe on existing marks.

• Trademark searching: Tools for conducting thorough and efficient trademark searches to identify potential conflicts before registration.

• Trademark watching: Continuous monitoring of registered trademarks to detect and respond to potential infringements.

• Trademark portfolio management: Managing and maintaining trademark portfolios, including renewals and strategic advice on trademark use and enforcement.

Brand protection services: Advanced solutions to monitor and enforce brand rights online. These include:

• Online brand monitoring: Continuous tracking of online platforms, including e-commerce sites, social media, and digital marketplaces, to identify counterfeit products, and other forms of brand misuse.  

• Anti-counterfeiting: Tools and strategies to detect, monitor, and remove counterfeit goods from online and offline channels. This includes collaboration with marketplaces, payment providers, and law enforcement agencies to enforce brand rights.

• Brand impersonation protection: Comprehensive monitoring to detect and address instances where third parties attempt to impersonate a brand online, using advanced techniques to identify threats that may evade traditional detection methods.

• Monitoring authorized sellers: Global surveillance of online and offline channels to ensure products are being sold only by authorized vendors, identifying and addressing unauthorized third-party sales.

• Domain name management: Monitoring and managing domain names to prevent cybersquatting and other forms of domain abuse. This includes identifying infringing domains and assistance with domain recovery and disputes.

• Enforcement and takedown services: Execution of legal takedown actions against infringing content, counterfeit listings, and unauthorized use of intellectual property across digital platforms. Corsearch's enforcement services are supported by a global network of legal experts.

• Market intelligence and reporting: Providing businesses with detailed reports and insights on brand protection activities, market trends, and emerging threats.

• Online-to-offline investigations: In-house investigators provide data-driven reports, test purchases, and intelligence for offline raids. This helps businesses protect against supply chain leakages, counterfeiting operations, brand impersonation networks, and the sources of other IP or regulatory infringement.

Content protection and anti-piracy: Corsearch provides tools and services designed to safeguard digital content from unauthorized distribution and piracy. This includes monitoring and protecting media content, such as films, TV shows, music, video games, and digital publications, across various online platforms. The services also involve detecting and eliminating digital piracy through proactive monitoring and executing takedown actions to enforce rights and protect intellectual property.

Technology and innovation

Corsearch leverages AI and Machine Learning to revolutionize the way IP monitoring and enforcement is conducted. These technologies allow Corsearch to analyze vast amounts of data rapidly and accurately, and to identify potential infringements and risks with great precision. For example, Corsearch’s proprietary algorithms can sift through millions of online listings, social media posts, and marketplace entries to detect counterfeit products and unauthorized use of trademarks. These ML models are continuously improving by learning from new data, refining their ability to recognize patterns of infringement and adapt to emerging threats.

Corsearch solutions are designed to be user-friendly, through intuitive dashboards and automated reporting systems. Advanced data analytics provide actionable insights to its clients, helping businesses make informed decisions about their IP strategies, from filing new trademarks to enforcing existing rights.  

Global presence

Corsearch has established a strong international presence, serving clients across the globe with a robust network of offices and strategic partnerships. This global footprint allows the company to deliver localized expertise, ensuring that its services are tailored to the specific needs and regulatory environments of different regions.

Corsearch offers comprehensive support to multinational corporations as well as local businesses, with offices and representatives in major economic hubs across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions. Corsearch has offices in:

• New York City, USA  

• Seattle, USA

• London, United Kingdom

• Cardiff, United Kingdom

• Hesperange, Luxembourg

• Helsinki, Finland

• Amsterdam, Netherlands  

• Paris, France  

• Varberg, Sweden  

• Shanghai, China  

• Mumbai, India

The company's deep understanding of regional legal frameworks, cultural nuances, and market dynamics enables it to provide customized solutions that address the unique challenges faced by clients in different parts of the world.

Corsearch’s strategic partnerships further extend its global reach. By collaborating with local IP law firms, government agencies, and industry associations, the company can offer its clients access to a broader range of resources and expertise. These partnerships also facilitate knowledge-sharing and the adoption of best practices.

The company’s global presence is complemented by its multilingual support capabilities, allowing it to serve clients in multiple languages and navigate the complexities of IP protection in diverse jurisdictions.  

Clientele and industry focus

Corsearch serves over 5,000 customers worldwide and maintains 70% of the Fortune 100 brands as clients. Its broad client base spans a wide array of sectors, including technology, entertainment, fashion, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and automotive. In addition to Fortune 500 companies, Corsearch also serves small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), law firms, individual IP owners, and creative professionals. This versatility reflects the scalability of Corsearch’s services, which are tailored to meet the needs of businesses across various industries, regardless of size.

Each sector faces distinct IP challenges, and Corsearch’s expertise in these areas allows the company to provide customized solutions. From combating online piracy in entertainment to protecting trademarks and patents in pharmaceuticals, Corsearch helps businesses address industry-specific risks.

Notable case studies and articles:

• Tommy Hilfiger

• Reckitt Benckiser

• Superdry

• Iron Maiden

• Merchant & Gould

• AstraZeneca

• Lipsy

• Mondelēz

• Unilever

• Brother

• Brompton

• Bob Ross Inc.

• Lundbeck

Corporate social responsibility and values

Corsearch considers its ESG responsibilities to be an integral part of its culture, strategy, investment and operations. The company is committed to addressing key areas including sustainability, diversity, ethics, human rights, and social justice. These principles are embedded in Corsearch’s mission and values, shaping both the company's impact and its vision for responsible corporate practices.

Mission

Corsearch's mission is to partner with brands to protect consumers from confusion, misrepresentation, and fraud by combining cutting-edge technology with expert judgment.

Values

Trust is the foundation

Corsearch is driven by trust, rooted in authenticity, expertise, empathy, transparency, and accountability. The company believes in making decisions based on facts and reasoning while maintaining openness and integrity.

Passion for purpose

Corsearch is passionate about protecting consumer brands and fostering fair competition. This passion inspires innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to overcoming challenges to fulfill its mission.

Impact through collaboration

Corsearch maximizes its positive impact by working together with colleagues and customers, building diverse teams, and encouraging open engagement and debate to find the best solutions. The company values accountability and celebrates the successes of both individuals and teams.

Social initiatives

EmpOUR Network Group

Corsearch's EmpOUR Network Group (formerly Gender Network) holds monthly meetings where participants discuss a range of topics, including leadership, equality and inclusion, and confidence in the workplace.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Discussion Group

The DEI Discussion Group at Corsearch facilitates discussions aimed at fostering an understanding and appreciation of diverse backgrounds, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization.

Pride & Allies Discussion Group

Corsearch's Pride & Allies Discussion Group serves as a platform for education and community support, helping colleagues better understand and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community and encouraging an inclusive workplace.

Chiefs of Happiness

The Chiefs of Happiness at Corsearch organize local and global initiatives to promote employee engagement and well-being. These initiatives include activities outside of work, book clubs, mentoring programs, and wellness-focused events.

Notable publications

Corsearch produces a variety of reports and publications that offer insights into intellectual property management and brand protection. These include annual industry reports, specialized lists, and research-based publications that provide data on emerging trends, IP enforcement strategies, and challenges related to trademark protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts.

Corsearch’s publications are designed to assist businesses, legal professionals, and IP experts in navigating the evolving complexities of trademark and brand protection across different sectors and jurisdictions.

Notable publications include:

Trademark Industry Report

Corsearch publishes an annual Trademark Industry Report, which offers an in-depth analysis of the trademark landscape during the year, with key insights into marketplace dynamics, competitor activities, and sectoral performance.

Three Strikes: Revisited

Corsearch's Three Strikes: Revisited paper examines the role of repeat infringers in perpetuating online counterfeiting and consumer harm on marketplaces and social media. Building on findings from Corsearch's 2020 white paper Three Strikes and Out, this new analysis explores the effectiveness of recent legislation aimed at tackling platform misuse and repeat infringement.

Corsearch Intelligence on Pandabuy

Corsearch was instrumental in disrupting Pandabuy, a major counterfeit distributor based in China. After tracking its activities since 2022, Corsearch collaborated with brand owners and law enforcement, leading to an April 2024 raid in Hangzhou. This operation resulted in the arrest of 30 individuals and the seizure of counterfeit goods worth millions, significantly weakening Pandabuy’s operation.

The Rise of Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs & How Brands Can Take Action

Corsearch identified a growing threat in counterfeit weight loss drugs, with over 40,000 illegal online pharmacies in operation. In response, Corsearch’s Holly Nash shared strategies in Health Tech World for pharma companies to protect consumers and tackle counterfeit distribution, including leveraging brand protection technology, collaborating with law enforcement, and raising consumer awareness.

What Businesses Need To Learn About Deepfakes and How to Spot Them

Deepfake technology, which manipulates audio, video, and images to create convincing false media, has emerged as a significant risk to businesses. In an article for World Financial Review, Corsearch’s Jonah Ellin highlights the dangers posed by deepfakes, from financial fraud to brand impersonation. He stresses the importance of early detection and the need for businesses to adopt advanced technology and collaborate with experts to safeguard their brand integrity and protect consumers from harm.