In July 2025, a court in Loja convicted defendants for illicit association in an intellectual property case, marking Ecuador's first such conviction. The case involved a group manufacturing counterfeit sneakers labeled with prominent brands. Three defendants were found guilty and received prison terms and fines. This landmark judgment confirmed the effectiveness of the illicit association charge in dismantling organized criminal networks that violate intellectual property rights. The analysis emphasizes the legal basis necessary for applying this crime to combat trademark counterfeiting and its implications for organized crime strategy.
In July 2025, a criminal court in Loja handed down Ecuador's first conviction for asociación ilícita in an intellectual property case, highlighting the judiciary's commitment to combatting organized IP crimes.
The investigation revealed that a coordinated group manufactured sneakers and affixed counterfeit labels of brands such as Nike, Puma, and Adidas before selling them through a network of local distributors.
Three defendants accepted responsibility through an abbreviated procedure; the court found them guilty of the crime of illicit association under Article 370 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code, imposing 12-month prison terms and financial penalties.
This precedent underscores how the illicit association offense is essential for dismantling organized crime networks involved in trademark counterfeiting, demonstrating effective legal strategies in protecting IP rights.
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