FBI, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND SOFTWARE
INDUSTRIES, ANNOUNCE ANTI-PIRACY WARNING INITIATIVE
Los Angeles, CA- The FBI, in conjunction
with leaders from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),
the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Software and Information
Industry Association (SIIA), and the Entertainment Software Association
(ESA) today announced a broad initiative to combat the theft of copyright
protected material -- a multi-billion dollar a year crime problem.
At a press conference at the FBI's Los
Angeles Field Office, FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Jana Monroe
highlighted the FBI's ongoing efforts and successes in addressing the
growing number of criminal complaints. Also released at the press conference
was an "Education Letter" designed to inform the public of
the risks and vulnerabilities associated with sites where users exchange
file information as well an introduction of the FBI's new "Anti-Piracy"
seal and warning text to be displayed on future copyrighted materials.
"The theft of copyrighted material
has grown substantially and has had a detrimental impact on the U.S.
economy," said AD Monroe. "The FBI's Cyber Division recognizes
the importance of the problem and stands ready to meet the challenge.
Through working partnerships with other law enforcement entities, the
Department of Justice, and industry, we will continue to devote significant
resources in pursuit of those who steal copyright protected data."
Brad Buckles, RIAA, Executive Vice President
and Director of Anti-Piracy, said "It is our hope that when consumers
see the new FBI warning on the music they purchase, both physically
and digitally, they will take the time to learn the do's and don'ts
of copying and uploading to the Internet. As this seal attests, these
are the serious crimes with serious consequences - including federal
prosecution- to making unauthorized copies or uploading music without
permission and consumers should be aware of them. We are grateful for
the FBI's dedication to helping all copyright owners enforce their rights."
"
Ken Jacobsen, MPAA, Senior Vice President
and Director of World-Wide Anti-Piracy Operations, said, "With
hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake nationwide, piracy is a serious
threat to the entire entertainment industry. Motion Picture copyright
theft losses are currently reaching $3.5 billion annually not including
losses associated with the illegal downloading of movies off of the
Internet. The MPAA has worked with the FBI to protect copyright material
since the early 1970's with its first anti-piracy warning system. We
applaud the FBI for its work on this critical issue thus far and look
forward to continuing our collaboration on this important new initiative."
Keith Kupferschmid, SIIA, Vice President
of Anti-Piracy Division said, "Piracy is not a victimless crime.
A software program that reflects unprecedented technology, years of
effort, and millions of development dollars can now be duplicated in
minutes with the touch of a button. We are grateful for the FBI's willingness
to take a leadership role in investigating those who engage in these
egregious violations."
Ric Hirsch, ESA, Senior Vice President
of Intellectual Property Enforcement, said, "This new seal will
serve as a clear and important reminder to consumers that piracy of
game products is illegal and may be subject to criminal enforcement."
The FBI's Cyber Division was created in
response to the rapidly expanding and diverse nature of crimes being
facilitated with computers. While the Division is managed from FBI Headquarters
in Washington, D.C., there are currently 60 FBI-led Cyber Task Forces
throughout the country which are uniquely positioned to investigate
a wide range of violations -- often having international facets and
national economic implications. Some of these violations include fraud,
identity theft, child pornography, and copyright infringement. Additionally
the Cyber Division supports Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism
investigations by analyzing terrorist threats, foreign intelligence
operations and criminal activities precipitated by the illegal intrusions
into U.S. computer networks.
Within the Cyber Division is the Intellectual
Property Rights (IPR) Center. The IPR Center was formed in 1999 in conjunction
with the Department of Justice as part of a multi-agency plan to effectively
improve the U.S. Government's efforts in IPR enforcement. The Center
is co-chaired with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
in Washington, D.C. and serves as a hub for the collection, analytical
support, and dissemination of intelligence involving IPR violations.
These violations include: Theft of Trade Secrets, Copyright Infringement,
Trademark Infringement, and Signal Theft. Additionally, the Center conducts
training and has an outreach program with industries affected by IPR
crime problems.
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