WASHINGTON, DC--The Federal Bureau
of Investigation and the U.S. Customs Service today announced
the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center's
first conference for members of Congress and industry in Washington.
The IPR Center serves as an inter-agency
clearinghouse to combat the growing problem of intellectual property
rights and trade related crime.
"The seriousness of intellectual
property rights and the importance of protecting them is not
always well understood," said Customs Commissioner Robert
C. Bonner. AIPR theft undermines and saps the creativity that
America is built upon."
Added Larry Mefford, Director
of FBI Cyber Division: "The National Intellectual Property
Rights coordination Center is designed to meet the challenge
of combating intellectual property crime in the 21st century.
It is a much-needed focal point designed to coordinate the efforts
of industry and law enforcement and give companies a central
contact for reporting suspected criminal conduct, or obtaining
information regarding the protection of trade secrets and other
intellectual property."
Every year, American businesses
lose billions of dollars from the importation and sale of counterfeit
goods, and the infringement of copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
These infringements include counterfeit computer software and
games, movies, clothing, jewelry, handbags, shoes and perfumes,
watches, and cigarettes.
The center functions as a coordination
center for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence
involving copyright and trademark infringement, signal theft
and theft of trade secrets. Information collected at the center
is forwarded to U.S. Customs and FBI field offices around the
country for further investigation.
The IPR Center works closely
with industry, trade associations, rights holders, and law enforcement
to address the substantial economic loss caused by intellectual
property crime. Losses to counterfeiting are estimated at $200-250
billion a year in U.S. business losses.
Intellectual property crime is
a priority for U.S. Customs and the FBI. The IPR Center encourages
industry, trade associations, rights holders, law enforcement
and the public to report intellectual property infringement violations
online at www.customs.gov/iprcenter.
Referrals can also be made by
calling the IPR Center at 202-927-0810 or by writing to the National
IPR Coordination Center, U.S. Customs/FBI, 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Room 3.5A1, Washington, DC 20229.