New legislation targets counterfeiters

New laws to tackle counterfeiting and piracy crime have come into force.

The new powers, which are backed by £5 million of government funding, will make enforcement of copyright infringement the responsibility of Trading Standards and give officers the power to make test purchases, enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents.

The government said that 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.

Innovation and Science minister Malcolm Wicks 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.

"IP (intellectual property) 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."

The move follows a review of intellectual property rights, commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown, which was led by former 'Financial Times' editor Andrew Gowers.

The review, which was published in December, 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."

Donna Sidwell, from the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services, said: "I am very pleased that the government has formally welcomed the recommendations of the Gowers Review. The government state that they firmly believe in the need for strong enforcement of intellectual property rights to support the UK's most creative industries."

(KMcA/JM)