INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CRIME


Intellectual Property (IP) refers to ownership of an idea or concept in the form of a brand, an invention, a design, a piece of music or other intellectual creation. Ownership can be affirmed and protected by patents, designs, copyright and trade marks.


IP is infringed when a product, creation or invention protected by IP laws is exploited, copied or used without the authorisation or permission of the company or individual who owns the rights to it. The transgressor can be pursued through the civil courts or through dispute resolution channels.


Copyright and trade mark infringement becomes a criminal matter when an individual or group engages in the manufacture, sale or distribution of goods for commercial gain which infringe IP. This can include counterfeiting - using someone’s registered trade mark on a product to give the impression it is genuine - and piracy, as in the case of copying commercially produced CDs.


Counterfeit and pirated goods can cause physical harm - for example, if toys or car accessories are not made with the correct materials - and impact on employment and profitability by undercutting the revenue made from the sale of genuine goods.


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