International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference Next conference: 19-21 October 2010 Hong Kong, S.A.R.P.R. China

IMPACT Enforcement

Operation Jupiter

Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy Next congress: (Dates now confirmed) 1–3 December 2009 - Cancun, Mexico

IP Crime Training Next Programme: 4th INTERPOL IP Crime Training Seminar 6-11 September, 2009 Buenos Aires, Argentina (Language: Spanish) 5th INTERPOL IP Crime Training Seminar 15-20 November, 2009 Ostia, Rome, Italy (Language: English)

IPR OASIS

Intellectual property (IP) crime is a generic term used to describe a wide range of counterfeiting and piracy offences.

Trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy are serious Intellectual Property crimes that defraud consumers, threaten the health of patients, cost society billions of dollars in lost government revenues, foreign investments or business profits and violate the rights of trademark, patent, and copyright owners. Imitation products pose a significant safety threat to consumers worldwide. Unsuspecting customers and severely sick patients put their health, and even life, in jeopardy each time they use counterfeit medication (containing little or no active ingredients), alcoholic beverages, food products or travel in automobiles and aircrafts maintained with substandard counterfeit parts.

INTERPOL’s fight against IP crime

In October 2000, the INTERPOL General Assembly approved the addition of IP crime to the Organization’s official mandate. Shortly afterwards, the INTERPOL Intellectual Property Action Group was formed as a public-private partnership. Core membership of the Action Group consists of representatives from national law enforcement and customs authorities, international intergovernmental organizations, cross-industry private sector bodies and patent protection entities.

The Actions Group’s mission is to provide an advisory group function; assist INTERPOL to develop strategies to combat transnational organized IP crime; and, encourage National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and national law enforcement authorities in INTERPOL member countries to dedicate more resources to IP crime enforcement.

INTERPOL’s IP Crime Unit: 

• Identify key audiences and create communication programmes aimed at government and law enforcement bodies, customs, consumers, patients, private sector and media
• Provides a central point of reference for transnational organized IP crime at the INTERPOL General Secretariat to facilitate contacts between law enforcement and industry IP Crime investigators
• Recognizes training needs on an international level
• Develops reliable support services for collective efforts by IP crime investigators to combat organized IP crime and improve communication
• Acts as a collection point for information obtained from all available sources for input into DIIP to support regional law enforcement interventions into transnational organized IP crime
• Continues to develop clear, consistent and specialized IP crime training programmes incorporating information from both the law enforcement community and the private sector
• Equips students and trainers with ready access to public and private sector training materials including the Guide to IP Crime & Investigations and more recently a proposal for an IP Crime Investigator’s College/e-Net function  
• Formulates strategies to increase global awareness of the negative impact of organized IP crime
• Showcases IP crime success stories as case studies in programmes, training materials and on the INTERPOL IP crime website

Our Objectives:

• Develop strategies and programmes to combat transnational organized criminal activity linked to IP infringement
• Develop the Database on International Intellectual Property Crime to further improve the exchange of information and intelligence on transnational organized IP crime
• Raise awareness among policy makers, stakeholders and the public about the central role of organized criminals in transnational IP crime
• Increase national and regional law enforcement efforts to combat transnational organized IP crime
• Continue to develop worldwide operational capability to facilitate and coordinate law enforcement action against IP crime
• Provide police with support and training on IP crime

Links between IP crime and the financing of terrorist activities

There is general agreement that IP crime is a high-profit, low-risk crime, which inevitably motivates criminals to engage in this type of activity. It is clear paramilitary terrorist organizations have traded in counterfeit and pirated goods to maintain their organizations and fund their activities. In light of this, INTERPOL remains concerned about the possibility that some other terrorist groups would seize the opportunity to finance their activities through IP crime.

INTERPOL is interested in cooperating with law enforcement authorities, the public and private sectors in the fight against transnational organized IP crime. If you represent one of these entities and would like to have further information about INTERPOL and IIPCAG or to discuss IP crime matters in your country please contact:

INTERPOL IP Crime Unit INTERPOL General Secretariat 200, quai Charles de Gaulle 69006 Lyon, France Fax: +33 (0) 4 72 44 72 21