For the past few weeks, the Global Intellectual Property Center has been talking up the need for a national IP enforcement strategy to help streamline government wide efforts to fight IP theft. Counterfeiting and piracy kill jobs and hinder economic growth—both here and abroad; these are crimes that touch nearly all industries and livelihoods. Like sports….

As soccer (football for the rest of the world) fans gather in South Africa and around their TV sets for the 2010 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup starting today, more than just the hearts of nations and the pride of the teams are on the line. Corporate sponsors have invested three years and millions of dollars in preparation for what is the biggest international sporting event outside the Olympics. In fact, the last World Cup, which was held in 2006 in Germany, had a combined record of 26.29 billion total viewers.

An event of this scale takes thousands of hours of planning and large sums of money. FIFA gets a large part of its funding from the many corporate sponsors who hope to profit from the advertising and merchandise sales.

As such, the counterfeiting of World Cup merchandise—like hats, jerseys, souvenirs, etc—and the illegal online streaming (when viewers watch the match via the internet) of the tournament threaten the foundations of this great event. The streaming of games through illegal channels not only steals jobs from the very people who work in the advertising business but this practice discourages the innovation and creation of new technologies which enable consumers to legally stream the games. U.S. content companies have invested over $100 million dollars to bring the World Cup to the living rooms of Americans this year and in 2014, and illegal streaming impacts the everyday employee who goes to work at these companies each day. 

Counterfeiting is not only illegal, but it robs the Cup’s sponsors of their investment, cutting into any revenues they hope and need to make on the games in order keep employees and create new jobs. And not only do workers in these companies suffer, but so does everyone else involved in the design, production and distribution of team and World Cup products. These are people just like you and me, trying to make a living based on our hard work, good ideas, and time invested in these efforts. 

Fake team jerseys are available for pennies on the dollar in comparison to the genuine article. To date, the South African government has confiscated roughly $2.5 million worth of knock offs. Often the counterfeit jerseys are poorly made and won’t last nearly as long as a professionally made jersey. Mementos of a once in a lifetime event are not only cheap shams that don’t last, but are stolen goods that steal jobs.
This illegal activity is serious business, and the repercussions are felt here at home. Thanks to the internet, counterfeiters can sell their fake products without ever leaving the comfort of their home – fooling unaware consumers with seemingly legitimate web sites.

As noted numerous times, the problem of counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. The true victims of this criminal activity are the authorized workers who make, package, distribute, and sell these products. These crimes put tens of thousands of American jobs at risk, which undermines our much-needed economic recovery. 

In order to create jobs and sustain our growth, we must remain vigilant with strengthened enforcement of intellectual property rights. The upcoming National IP Enforcement Strategy (click here to learn more) promises to do just that. A sound national strategy will defend America’s intellectual property by cracking down on the counterfeiting and piracy that are killing American jobs and putting consumers at risk. It has the potential to play a major role in the resurgence of America’s competiveness. 

It’s my hope that Congress will give this strategy the attention and support it demands, and that the White House will begin implementing this plan the day it is released. If you have time during the World Cup commercial breaks, consider jotting a quick note to your congressman and senators, and let them know you agree.

There is no room for counterfeiting and online pirates on the pitch. Let’s leave that to the players.