Intellectual Property Crime
Intellectual property theft is a major local problem. Counterfeit goods are widely distributed via local markets and are a multi-million pound business in Northern Ireland. It is a crime that is seen as victimless by many but it is in fact a destructive and potentially deadly criminal activity. There is a growth in the use of the Internet to sell and distribute counterfeit goods. Some of these are clearly identified as counterfeit and there is no intention to deceive the public, merely to capitalise on the popularity of a trademark or copyrighted item. Other sites sell the counterfeit version with every assurance that the item for sale is genuine. Criminals in Northern Ireland have been using the Internet to reach a wider audience for their illegal merchandise.
In February 2005 a mobile DVD counterfeiting unit was discovered in a field in South Armagh. This consisted of a van, portable generator, a number of DVD burners and a significant quantity of blank discs. In the past year, PSNI have seized over £2.2 million worth of computers and other equipment used to manufacture counterfeit CDs, DVDs and computer software.
In Northern Ireland the PSNI has a history of co-operating with HMRC and representatives of various industry bodies such as the Federation Against Copyright Theft, British Phonographic Industry, the Entertainment, Leisure and Software Publishers Association, the Patent Office and the drinks manufacturer Diageo. There is a close working relationship with An Garda Siochana.
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