Taking a Byte Out of Cyber-Style IP Theft
The White House's Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, led by Victoria Espinel, better known as the government's "IP Czar," marked her first year anniversary on the job by reporting the seizure by the government of 82 websites allegedly selling counterfeit goods.
Said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton, whose National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center worked with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in making the seizures, “The sale of counterfeit U.S. brands on the Internet steals the creative work of others, costs Health and Safety our economy jobs and revenue and can threaten the health and safety of American consumers. The protection of intellectual property is a top priority for [Homeland Security] and the [IPR Center].”
IPR and IPEC want the public's help. With a click of a "Report IP Theft" button, left, "members of the general public, industry, trade associations, law enforcement and government agencies" may (anonymously, if they wish) report violations of intellectual property rights.
Intellectual Property-related prosecutions by DOJ are listed in its cybercrimes new releases ; more complete case descriptions may be found here.
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