Intellectual Property Theft Investigations

Counterfeiting has become the preferred method
of financing for terrorist organizations.”

- Christopher Zimmerman
Customs Expert European Commission
 

Intellectual Property Investigations



What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property is a valuable, intangible asset that may be owned, created or licensed by an individual or organization. It is often a cornerstone of a businesses reputation and prosperity.

The value and importance placed upon intellectual property is increasing globally as organizations and individuals seek to leverage off their reputation and hard earned brand names to maintain and increase their market share.

Intellectual Property takes many forms to include:

Patents
Copyrights
Trademarks
Trade Secrets
Design
Geographical indications

The trade in counterfeit goods such as Petroleum Jelly, video and music CDs as well as purses and watches heavily finances al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Interpol has monitored a number of cases where Ethnic Lebanese involved in the distribution and sale of counterfeit goods in Paraguay and other South American Countries remitted funds to the Muslim extremist group Hizbollah.

In Northern Ireland, paramilitary groups such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), were known to control the manufacturing and trafficking of counterfeit or pirated goods through their links to organized crime.

By many accounts, intellectual piracy has become a major source of financing for terrorists.

The organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cited the trade in counterfeit goods amount to approximately $450 billion dollars annually. Carratu International estimates that the global counterfeit market, which already accounts for 9% of world trade, will double in size over the next two years.
The Corporate Crime Control Association offers remedies to the negative effects of intellectual property theft through investigations. Seeking the immediate assistance of our specialized investigative team is essential to prevent continual damage and financial loss.

Our Specialized Investigative Response Team (SIRT) actively identifies sources/individuals engaged in the sale of counterfeit merchandise. After permission has been obtained we will then issue Cease and Desist orders on behalf of our clients, obtain a voluntary seizure of all of the products and involve law enforcement when needed for a prosecution. We also obtained valuable intelligence either by covert surveillance or in depth interviews to identify and locate the suppliers. We can then extend our investigation to a national or global level through our vast investigative network. We work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and have a stellar reputation locally with various county District Attorney’s offices.

Annually, our SIRT team members seize hundreds of thousands of dollar worth of counterfeit goods.