Blog: Attorney General Holder and DOJ Officials Host Intellectual Property Enforcement Meeting with Industry Representatives

Press Release

On July 22, 2011, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Criminal Division hosted the fifth annual law enforcement and industry meeting on intellectual property (IP) enforcement at the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Building. Attorney General Holder delivered the opening remarks at the meeting along with Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.

Attorney General Holder emphasized the Department's ongoing commitment to intellectual property protection. He outlined the continued growth of Department's intellectual property criminal enforcement program, highlighting:

* The establishment of a Department-wide Task Force on Intellectual Property;
* The expertise provided by 40 prosecutors and four computer forensics experts in CCIPS, who guide the Department's overall intellectual property and computer crime strategy and prosecute key cases;
* The addition of 15 new prosecutors to the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Network, which includes over 260 specially-trained prosecutors and 25 CHIP units located in U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the country;
* The addition of 51 specially-trained FBI Special Agents to investigate intellectual property crime;
* Ongoing support to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center);
* Increased international engagement as well as coordination with state and local law enforcement; and
* Ongoing partnerships with a broad range of IP rights holders.

Speaking to the modern challenges of enforcing IP crimes and the need for collaboration and continued vigilance, Attorney General Holder stated:

"Although recent technological advances -- particularly in methods of manufacturing and distribution -- have created new opportunities for innovation and growth, this process has also created new vulnerabilities that tech-savvy criminals are eager to exploit. Only by working together -- in partnership with industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and IP crime victims -- will we be able to anticipate, understand, and overcome the new methods and technologies being employed by those who seek to profit from the innovations of others."

The meeting also included brief remarks by senior law enforcements officials followed by an open discussion that provided members of the IP community with an opportunity to communicate directly with senior prosecutorial and law enforcement officials most responsible for federal criminal enforcement of IP law at the national level. The annual IP meeting is part of the Department's efforts to foster a strong relationship and ongoing dialogue with the victim-industry community.

Senior law enforcement officials who participated in the meeting included: Assistant Director Gordon Snow, Cyber Division, FBI; Deputy Director Kumar Kibble, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Assistant Commissioner Allen Gina, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Office of International Trade; and Acting Director Kathy Martin-Weis, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and Jason Weinstein, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division.

The event was attended by close to 80 individuals, including senior representatives from more than 40 companies and associations representing a broad range of the intellectual property industry, such as pharmaceuticals, business and entertainment software, luxury goods, electronics, apparel, motion pictures, music, sports, certification mark, consumer goods and automobiles.

For more information on the Department's efforts to combat intellectual property crimes, please visit: justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce.

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