Studies and seizure statistics are showing that the business of trafficking dangerous fakes is alive and growing rapidly.
Congress cannot ignore this massive loophole in enforcement of intellectual property online. Foreign e-criminals are bleeding our most creative industries in this critical time of economic recovery. A vote for rogue sites legislation is a vote for American jobs and American consumers.
Today, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released its Special 301 Out of Cycle Review of Notorious Markets. The Chamber and GIPC commend USTR’s recognition of the pervasive problem of counterfeiting and piracy, especially as it relates to the online market.
USTR opens the report saying
Question: How many stores in your town exclusively sell illegal items, such as counterfeit goods or pirated music or movies?
Most of you would answer, “well, none!” It is likely that at most, all you could think is a stall on that corner which seems to disappear every now and then. The truth is,
By Steve Tepp
There’s not a sector or industry that online criminals won’t exploit. Rogue websites create an online bazaar of everyone’s favorite department stores aisles and hop the bandwagon of robbing jobs from hard-working Americans. Our next rogue site, www.ghd-factory.com, operating out of Ho
Today, many are taking to the World Wide Web to celebrate the goofyness that is “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.” While we wholeheartedly endorse having a good time, today provides us with an opportunity to point out that piracy—on the high seas and on the open Web—is not all fun and games.
As we’ve carried on our Rogue Site of the Week program throughout the course of 2011, one thing is blatantly obvious: criminals and operators of these sites fail to develop original ideas so they free ride on well-known brands–even ski jackets. Yes, ski jackets. While this blog isn’t meant to be a
As Congress begins to hammer out its jobs agenda this fall, we have just one particular request: protect American jobs by getting rogue sites legislation done. In fact, enacting rogue sites legislation was featured prominently alongside other critical job creating tools in the Chamber’s jobs agen
Every day, rogue websites are ripping off America’s innovators and creators. There are 19 million Americans employed by our intellectual property-intensive industries and these jobs are placed at risk by the foreign thieves who operate rogue sites to counterfeit America’s best-known products and p
The counterfeiting of cosmetics and other personal care products have been an activity of organized crime. The length that criminals go in adding harmful additives to knock-off products is appalling. Seized counterfeit fragrances have been found to contain antifreeze, chemicals, harmful bacteri
A few weeks ago, we spotlighted the consumer safety risks posed by rogue sites by introducing you to Glenda Billerbeck, whose friend Marcia Mooty Bergeron was killed by counterfeit prescriptions she purchased from a rogue site. This week, we turn our attention to the issue of online piracy. While
By Steve Tepp
Though each star on the flag is identical in size, shape, and color, it is hardly a stretch to say that in reality, the states that those stars represent are not so. One of the real beauties of America is the diversity amongst our states. We all may say the pledge to one single fla
For the past few months, I have used this space to highlight a variety of rogue websites engaged in intellectual property theft across numerous sectors of the U.S. economy. Today I want to tell the story about a site that has made a dramatic step in the right direction. Given recent history, this
By Steve Tepp
As we celebrate this anniversary of America’s independence, it is important to reflect on the freedoms and rights that we’ve been afforded and what it took to secure them. Over 200 years ago, soldiers lined up shoulder-to-shoulder on the soil on which we now have built our livelihoods
Noel Lee, the son of Chinese immigrants, is the embodiment of the American spirit of innovation and ingenuity. Lee, an engineer and once-aspiring rock star, started Monster Cable in 1979 in his family’s garage in San Francisco, CA. Now his company employs more than 600 individuals and is headquart
The GIPC’s “Rogue Site of the Week” campaign has shed light on a series of rogue websites peddling counterfeit goods and pirated content to unsuspecting consumers. In the sports and entertainment industry, it’s well-documented that counterfeit dealers are using the Internet to arrange sales of cou
By Steve Tepp
General stores and convenience stores got their names exactly because of the way they served their neighborhoods and communities. General products and goods at convenient locations, in case you ran out of milk or wanted to indulge your sweet tooth. Unfortunately, rogue website
We can all name our favorite TV and movie stars. They entertain us, help us unwind, and make us think. But could you name your favorite gaffer, lighting director, or catering crew? Probably not. The fact is that these individuals and small businesses are critical for the production of motion pict
Videogames have been a leisure activity for Americans for decades and now even a method of exercising for the young and old. In fact, 67 percent of American households play computer or video games. While we all may not be dedicated gamers, I imagine everyone can remember the first time they playe
Today, Acting Register Maria Pallante was appointed Register of Copyrights for the U.S. Copyright Office by the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington. The GIPC enthusiastically welcomes Pallante’s appointment, which positions her at the helm of a key American IP institution. An effective
Recently the Business Software Alliance (BSA) released a new study on the increasing volume of software theft worldwide. The research presents the state of software piracy rates in 116 countries, public opinions on the benefits of intellectual property (IP) rights and strategies for addressing the
Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiated another round of domain seizures of rogue websites. ICE’s latest and fifth round of seizures, netted 5 domain names that were being abused as rogue websites aimed at IP theft of illegal digital content and offering knock-off consum
The exploding golf ball trick is a common practical joke that any seasoned golfer has likely experienced a few times in their lives. The joke that many golfers aren’t expecting is the surprise that the new set of clubs they recently purchased are completely fake. This is not a new issue and now ro
Last month, Kenyan runner Geoffry Mutai ran the fastest marathon ever, taking the title of the 2011 Boston Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds. Mutai’s time is a course record by nearly three minutes and the fastest marathon run by nearly a minute. Professionals in their craf
The fight against online theft is kicking into high gear with the introduction of the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate. The broad, business-labor coalition that supports this legislation is determined to see that this bill becomes law. In support of that effort, we have created a new video that frame
Last week, the GIPC kicked-off its Rogue Site of the Week initiative, which is designed to educate consumers, policymakers, etc,... on the trickery and elusiveness of websites dedicated to stealing American intellectual property (IP). This week’s Rogue Site of the Week – www.stuff-trade.com – was
Today, the GIPC kicked off its “Rogue Site of the Week” project, which is designed to educate consumers on the trickery and elusiveness of websites dedicated to stealing American intellectual property (IP). Most importantly, this initiative is aimed at showing Congress the need to enact rogue site
Internet piracy isn’t worth the risk—just ask a California man who pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and now faces a sentence of five years in prison and $250,000 fine. The defendant was a member of an Internet music release group operating under
Last week law enforcement officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made a groundbreaking arrest in the fight against rogue websites. The defendant is alleged to have illegally streamed live, copyrighted sports broadcasts via a website
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the harm that rogue websites cause the American economy and the remedies needed to curb online intellectual property (IP) theft. The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, through the leadership of Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking
Today, a broad coalition of more than 130 organizations—small, medium and large businesses, professional and labor organizations, and trade associations joined the chorus of support for the introduction and enactment of rogue sites legislation. This letter was delivered to all Members of Congress
Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations sent Valentine’s Day cards in the form of 18 domain seizures to counterfeiters on rogue websites offering counterfeit jewelry, luxury handbags, perfumes, and other consumer goods. This is a new round of seizures
This Sunday, two classic National Football League franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, face one another in Super Bowl XLV. Unbeknownst to many, the battle on the gridiron will be flanked by another battle outside of Cowboys Stadium and on the Internet–law enforcement agents a
Frontier Economics has released a report at the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy’s (BASCAP) Sixth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy concluding that global counterfeiting and piracy rob G20 economies of 2.5 million jobs. This study along with other recent repor
Today, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation hosted a discussion on Internet bandwidth and online piracy. A panel of experts came together to discuss a new study released by Envisional that estimates the amount of Internet traffic attributed to online piracy and the transfer of infr
Tonight, in his State of the Union address, the President highlighted the need to turn to American innovation to create jobs, compete in the global economy, and build an economic infrastructure that provides a prosperous future for our children and our country. A key element to achieve the goals th
Recent reports over the weekend have indicated that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in cooperation with the Justice Department (DOJ) and the National IPR Coordination Center, has seized more than 70 websites dedicated to selling counterfeit goods and/or pirating copyrighted mat
Today, a coalition of 28 business groups, including some of the most job-producing industries in our economy, ran an ad in Roll Call calling for Congressional action against rogue websites--those that are dedicated to selling counterfeit goods and/or pirating copyrighted materials. These sites are
The problem of rogue websites selling illegal goods is growing, as is the support for a bill that would tackle this problem. Intellectual property (IP)—a key component to our economic growth and development—is a cornerstone of nearly every industry, including medical, entertainment, software, energ
Online counterfeiting and piracy is a destructive force that hurts the American economy, and the Leahy-Hatch bill addresses this illegal behavior by targeting the worst of the worst counterfeiters and copyright pirates online. The assertion that this legislation equates to foreign political censors
The harm that digital theft and piracy have on our economic livelihood is well-documented. Two new studies, released last week by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and computer security giant McAfee, further illustrate the damaging effects of online intellectual property (IP) theft for our econo
