Piracy and Counterfeiting

The U.S. copyright industry estimates that its losses from piracy overseas amount to approximately $20-22 billion per year.  Copyright piracy is most prevalent in the area of music CDs, movie videos, VCDs and DVDs, and some illegal copying of books and other printed materials.  The parties responsible for this piracy are often organized crime groups with ties to many other nefarious activities.

The State Department's Office of International Intellectual Property Enforcement conducts anti-piracy efforts on its own and with the U.S. Government agencies involved in combating piracy and counterfeiting, such as the Copyright Office (part of the Library of Congress), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the Departments of Justice and Commerce.

The State Department also works with U.S. industry organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC).

Anti-piracy efforts include assisting foreign governments in drafting copyright legislation, training of foreign officials charged with enforcing laws to combat piracy, assisting judicial officials in prosecuting pirates, disseminating information on the prevalence and repercussions of piracy, coordinating IPR training efforts, supporting public awareness campaigns and educational efforts and training State Department officers overseas to be better advocates on IPR issues.

The U.S. Government and Intellectual Property

• U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section
• Understanding Intellectual Property Rights
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Intellectual Property Law and Policy