Industry News
New legislation attacks counterfeiters
10th April 2007
New powers to help Trading Standards officers tackle the UK's fight against counterfeiting and piracy crime came into force on 4 April. Backed by £5 million of government funding the new powers under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 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.
Malcolm Wicks, MP, the Minister for Science and Innovation, said:
"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."
The issue of counterfeit car parts has been highlighted by several aftermarket suppliers recently, and the U.S. motor industry values global parts counterfeit trade at about $12bn per annum. Statistics of seizures of counterfeit goods in the UK do not, however, record them by type.
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