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IP theft deals $2bn worldwide blow, report shows
- Posted in: Copyright
on 30th January 2007 Link to this page
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One day ahead of Geneva's WIPO-sponsored Third Global Congress, ‘Shared Challenges, Common Goals’, the counterfeit-watching Gieschen Consultancy has revealed some disturbing statistics on the global economic damage caused by IP crime in 2006. Throughout the year, the International Chamber of Commerce monitored 1,647 incidents of trademark and copyright infringement in 92 countries. Losses and seizures arising from the offences amounted to $1.9 billion.
The figures emerged from the Chamber’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeit and Piracy (BASCAP) intelligence reports. Glen Gieschen, the Consultancy’s counterfeiting intelligence manager, congratulated the Chamber for its findings: ‘[it] is taking the lead in providing the type of tools and research necessary to accurately measure and understand this illicit trade.’
Ruth Orchard, head of the pan-global Anti-Counterfeiting Group, which represents 200 firms, said of the news: ‘Several factors have been at work during 2006 to increase the challenge to legitimate business from counterfeiting and piracy. In practical terms, perhaps the biggest single issue for us in 2006 has been the exponential increase in the trade in fakes on the Internet.’
Ms Orchard added that the Third Global Congress, held from 30 to 31 January, ‘is a timely reminder that this criminal activity will continue to increase its hold on the world economy, threatening the safety of consumers and funding other serious crimes, unless the partnership of industry and government is able to work effectively.’
Eddy Levitan, spokesman for the UK-based Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) said that film piracy – one of the largest contributors to the Consultancy’s results – was ‘a crime of major significance, with organised criminal networks manufacturing, distributing and selling counterfeit DVDs across the whole country. 2006 saw some stronger sentencing from courts and film piracy offences and some major assets seizures which we believe will have a deterrent effect.’
Glen Gieschen warned: ‘I can state with absolute certainty the industry is growing rapidly, provides funds to support other criminal activity, and infiltrates legitimate supply chains making many businesses unsuspecting participants.’
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