The Government yesterday announced the launch of a national
crime strategy to crack down on counterfeiting and piracy.
Developed by the UK Patent Office, the strategy seeks to bring
together brand owners, police, trading standards and customs.
"Intellectual property crime is not victimless," said Industry
Minister Jacqui Smith, as she launched the strategy. "As well as
cheating consumers, the trade in counterfeit goods costs UK
companies billions of pounds and thousands of jobs every year."
The Government also warns that piracy and counterfeiting are
commonly carried out by organised gangs, and consumers buying or
using fake goods are likely to be funding criminals and
money-launderers.
The strategy is for all the agencies and institutions already
involved in fighting pirates and counterfeiters to work together to
improve intelligence sharing, training, co-ordination of efforts,
and the monitoring of progress and success by means of an annual
national enforcement report.
This annual report will be used to advise a Strategic Tasking and
Co-ordination Group that will then set enforcement and prevention
priorities.
