Our Partner Agencies — National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center

Protection is Our Trademark -The IPR Center manages and supports the ICE commercial fraud program. Successful cases have produced significant seizures, civil penalties and criminal prosecutions.

Latest News

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ICE, CBP leadership emphasize collaboration in trade enforcement

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Personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection gathered this week to receive key training in the prevention of textile trade fraud that threatens the U.S. economy, restricts the competitiveness of U.S. industry and endangers the health and safety of the American public.
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Information Technology Manager Pleads Guilty to Sending Damaging Computer Code to Former Company’s Servers

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Record distributor pleads guilty in Dallas to copyright infringement charges

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Angelica’s Record Distributors to pay $250,000 in restitution to Recording Industry Association of America, forfeit $250,000, and more than 150,000 counterfeit CDs and DVDs
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HSI Dallas holds IPR Training Fair to update law enforcement officers on the crime of counterfeiting and how to combat it

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IP theft is a problem that goes much deeper than buyers purchasing fake name-brand purses, shoes or football jerseys at a discount. This alone harms the U.S. economy and robs American workers of jobs. But profits from “knock-offs” also often support criminal organizations involved in weapons trafficking, drug smuggling and other illegal activities.
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HSI Dallas hosts Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Training Fair for 200 DFW-area law enforcement officers

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It’s estimated that American industries alone lose about $250 billion annually from these counterfeits. And that lost revenue also means lost American jobs, and lost local and federal taxes that weren’t paid on those goods.
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Dallas Lawyer Sentenced to Serve 12 Months and One Day in Federal Prison

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4 men indicted in Houston for smuggling counterfeit veterinary products into US

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The following four men were indicted July 9: Iain Nigel MacKellar, 58, of the United Kingdom; Lam Ngoc Tran, aka Mark Tran, 40, of Fountain Valley, California; Allen Smith, 49, of Phoenix; and William Humphreys, 58, of Laguna Hills, California.
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Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Conspiracy to Sell More Than $1 Million in Counterfeit Erectile-Dysfunction Drugs

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Nevada man pleads guilty in Missouri to multi-million dollar piracy scheme

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Arunachalam Annamalai, 48, a resident of Las Vegas, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to charges that he participated in the software piracy conspiracy. Annamalai is the owner and operator of Vegascart LLC.
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Stockton Man Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods

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US, Mexico customs agencies host anti-counterfeiting training in Mexico City

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The conference was hosted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Mexico City, the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) and Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT).
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4 people indicted in New Jersey for trafficking counterfeit technology

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The following individuals were charged in an eight-count indictment with importing and trafficking in counterfeit goods, smuggling, structuring and international money laundering: Andreina Becerra, 30, a Venezuelan national residing in Miami; Roberto Volpe, 33, an Italian national residing in Miami; Jianhua Li, 40, a Chinese national and resident of Guangzhou, China; Rosario La Marca, 52, an...
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4 charged with counterfeiting Apple, Sony products

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Andreina Becerra, 30, a Venezuelan national, and Roberto Volpe, 33, an Italian national, both of Miami; Jianhua Li, 40, a Chinese national and resident of Guangzhou, China; and Rosario La Marca, 52, an Italian national and resident of Italy, were accused in an eight-count indictment of importing and trafficking fake iPhones, iPads and iPods bearing counterfeit Apple trademarks and fake camcorders...
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ICE takes down website selling Chinese counterfeit hair appliances for top dollar

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Stephen Voudouris, Sr., 59, from Newtown Square, Yung Chung, 31, from West Chester, and Jaimmy Chun, 30, from Philadelphia are charged with conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit goods and wire fraud. Voudouris, Sr. is also charged with smuggling counterfeit goods into the United States.
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California man pleads guilty in Houston to trafficking misbranded, counterfeit prescription drugs

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Martez Alando Gurley, 40, from Napa, California, admitted at his pre-arraignment hearing June 29 that he purchased 15,000 to 18,000 counterfeit Viagra and counterfeit Cialis tablets from an individual in China he knew as “Alice,” as well as an additional 3,600 to 4,800 tablets from another individual within the U.S.
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U.S., China unite to fight intellectual property theft

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Representatives from U.S. and Chinese customs agencies strengthened relations Tuesday by signing an agreement to work together to combat violators of intellectual property rights law.
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HSI operation nets more than $180,000 in fake NHL goods during 2015 Stanley Cup Final and Chicago Blackhawks victory celebration

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The enforcement initiative, dubbed Operation Team Player, resulted in the seizure of 4,376 items, including fake jerseys, hats, t-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs. The $181,215 value is based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the counterfeit NHL merchandise.
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Eleven Defendants Charged in Nationwide Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Counterfeit 5-Hour ENERGY Drink

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Bay Area man sentenced to 15 months in counterfeit DVD scheme

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Christopher Breejen, 43, who pleaded guilty in November 2014 to one count of criminal copyright infringement, admitted importing counterfeit DVDs and selling them on eBay.
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Chicago-area business owner arrested for selling unlicensed sports merchandise

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Jeff Huang, 61, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, was arrested June 9 and charged with five counts of unauthorized use of a trademark, a class-one felony. He was placed on electronic monitoring during his bond hearing June 10 at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse.

Consumer Alerts

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Pirated Software May Contain Malware

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Software bought on the cheap from unknown sellers may contain hidden dangers.
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Counterfeit Auto Parts

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PSA for counterfeit auto parts.

Quick Links

Report IP Theft

To report violations of intellectual property rights, including counterfeiting and piracy, to the National IPR Coordination Center, click here..

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