Reviewed 30 November 2008

Wicks targets bootleggers with £5M crackdown

Trade and Industry Minister Malcolm Wicks today called time on bootleg film, music and game dealers.  

Speaking to the Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Group in London he confirmed that, from 6 April, new powers under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, backed up with £5million new funding, will be at the disposal of Trading Standards Officers and other UK enforcement agencies.

Malcolm said:

"The UK film, music and game industries are among the most creative and innovative in the world, but peddlers of counterfeits are costing those industries up to £9 billion a year. The taxpayer is also losing out to the tune of £300 million. It's a serious offence, whether committed by small-scale hawkers or international crime organisations."

"From 6 April, there’ll be an additional 4,500 pairs of Trading Standards eyes watching counterfeiters and pirates. This will mean more surprise raids at markets and boot sales, more intelligence, more prosecutions and more criminals locked up.  IP criminals should know that the UK is not a safe place. Their risk of 10 years' imprisonment and unlimited fines is very real and from this date forward a markedly higher risk."

Bringing into force Section 107a of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (CDPA) 1988 was a recommendation of last year's Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. It will make enforcement of copyright infringement the responsibility of Trading Standards and give enforcement officers the power to make test purchases, enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents.

The IP Crime Group's Strategy is enabling co-ordinated action from customs, benefit fraud teams, police, trading standards and industry investigators.

Steve Lynch of Essex Trading Standards said:

"Trading Standards Officers have long believed that these additional powers will provide an important new weapon in our fight against organised criminals on counterfeit and pirate goods. I am delighted that we'll be able to tackle these criminals and protect the consumer in areas which we had not previously been able to target."

It is suspected that all international crime organisations are now involved in counterfeiting and use this as a way to launder money and fund a wide range of criminal activities. The link was tragically highlighted in the case of the deaths of the immigrant cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay, where two of those involved were found to have links with counterfeiting operations.

Ron Gainsford, Chief Executive of the Trading Standards Institute, said:

"Crimelords currently earn fortunes peddling fake goods, bootleg CDs and DVDs through car boot sales and other outlets. People might think they are getting a bargain and turn a blind eye to what is really happening but they should realise that the proceeds from the sale of these goods are used to finance a whole range of criminal activities."

Editors' notes:

  • Andrew Gowers’ Review of Intellectual Property, published in December, underlined the importance of effective enforcement. He said: "The ideal IP system creates incentives for innovation, without unduly limiting access for consumers and follow-on innovators. And it must take tough action against those who infringe IP rights at a cost to the UK's most creative industries". The Review, including the final report, the commissioned research and responses to the Call for Evidence, is available from the HM Treasury website External Link.
  • The Patent Office has published a timetable (professional section) for the implementation of the Gowers Review recommendations.
  • The IP Crime Group, established by the Patent Office working in collaboration with its many partners, has in the last two years produced the national IP Crime Strategy, the Annual Enforcement Report, developed TellPat; the national database for recording counterfeiting and piracy activities which is now recognised by the Police, intelligence officers and Trading Standards as the key database on IP Crime. The Annual Enforcement Report is available on this website.

Date of release: 08 February 2007