The Homeland Security Investigations-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center provided the backdrop for the release of a report on the state of counterfeit and pirated goods trafficking, and recommendations focused on protecting businesses and consumers with strategies aimed at achieving the President’s stated goals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its first report pursuant to President Trump’s April 3, 2019, Memorandum on Combatting Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods. The first-ever report outlines a series of recommendations and actions that can be taken by both the federal government and industry partners to combat this illicit trade epidemic.
Predatory and illegal intellectual property (IP) trade practices affect every aspect of our lives. The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) leads the U.S. government's response to stop global IP theft and enforce trade laws.
Comprised of federal agencies and industry experts, the IPR Center develops initiatives, coordinates enforcement actions and shares information related to intellectual property (IP) theft. It also stops predatory, illegal trade practices that threaten the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and national security.
IP theft is not a victimless crime. Victims are American consumers, businesses, trademark holders and people who manufacture and sell legitimate products. Often, the illicit proceeds resulting from the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed products are funneled back to support a broad range of illegal crimes. Every day, the IPR Center works with industries and agencies to stop IP theft that threatens U.S. businesses, robs hardworking Americans of their jobs and negatively impacts the economy. From criminal arrests to the seizure of goods, the numbers tell the story.
Criminals sell pirated merchandise and counterfeit U.S. products around the globe. And, while it seems harmless to buy a knock-off purse, an inexpensive electronic device or cheaper medication, these trade practices threaten the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and national security by introducing harmful and banned materials into counterfeit products and supporting illegal labor practices. The U.S. government created the IPR Center to stop predatory and illegal trade practices.
By bringing together domestic and international government agencies and private industry partners, the IPR Center presents a unified force to combat global intellectual property theft and enforce IP rights violations. The IPR Center was established to combat global IP theft and, accordingly, has a significant role policing the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods on websites, social media, and the dark web.
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2024/09/04 11:24:00 UTC
WASHINGTON– Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger has announced that Ivan J. Arvelo has been appointed as the new Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). The IPR Center, which stands at the forefront of the U.S. government's response to global intellectual property theft and trade law enforcement, collaborates with federal agencies, international law enforcement, academia, and private sector partners.
2024/07/25 12:15:00 UTC
A federal grand jury in Houston has returned a significant indictment against an Indian national accused of trafficking counterfeit oncology pharmaceuticals into the U.S. Charged with one count of conspiracy and four counts of trafficking, the individual faces up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat counterfeit drugs and protect patient safety.
2024/06/13 14:29:00 UTC
WASHINGTON— With the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers competing in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) and the National Hockey League (NHL) are reminding sports fans to be wary of counterfeit sports-related merchandise and apparel during the championship series. Large sporting events, such as the Stanley Cup Final, are prime targets for increasingly savvy criminals who often set up sophisticated fake websites or e-commerce marketplace storefronts with the sole intent of scamming sports fans.
