UK Intellectual Property Office Helps Tackle IP Crime

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

17 October 2008

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) is playing an active part in helping the recently established Global Prosecutors' E-Crime Network (GPEN) which consists of a database of e-crime prosecutors, a forum for exchanging advice, and e-crime material, in overcoming intellectual property crime. The Network's activity will lead to more successful prosecutions in the fight to overcome the current multi billion intellectual property crime business.

The UK-IPO is working in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service in providing a portfolio of IP training material.

David Lammy, Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property commented:

"IP crime is a serious economic crime which needs to be tackled on a worldwide basis. The GPEN initiative provides an ideal opportunity to address this.

This will ensure prosecutions are effectively managed and enforcement agencies can take informed decisions on targeting the criminal network."

"I am delighted that the UK Intellectual Property Office is taking an active part in the development of GPEN by contributing IP training material to fight IP Crime," he added.

The UK-IPO's initiative reinforces its commitment to supporting and developing a partner agency approach in the ongoing fight against IP crime.

The Gowers Review of Intellectual Property (recommendation 44) pointed to the need to provide more training to the criminal courts on the complexities of IP. The new partnership will mean that UK prosecutors as well as global prosecutors will have access to a broad range of IP training material.

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