Intellectual Property Crime

Consultation with a computer

Intellectual Property (IP) crime can be big business; for many organised criminals, IP crime can be hugely profitable for only a small investment. Counterfeiting of digital media, fashion goods, electronic goods and other items has been aided by advancements in current technologies. Though ‘knock off’ goods can seem victimless, businesses can see their reputations damaged by the poor quality of counterfeited goods. Copyright theft and infringement describes the unauthorised use of copyrighted material, be it photos, videos, music or software, without permission.

Below is a list of common IP crimes. Click on them to read more about the potential impact and how you can protect yourself.

  • Counterfeit crimes
  • Copyright theft
  • Intellectual property theft
Copyright Theft

Copyright theft, or infringement, is the violation of an individual or organisation’s copyright. It’s the unauthorised use of material such as text, photos, videos, music, software and other original content. The onset of the internet, and easier ways of sharing material, has led to copyright theft being more prevalent.

Counterfeit Crimes

Counterfeit goods are goods made in imitation so they can be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine. Though most people see the purchase of fake or ‘knock off’ goods as a victimless crime, there is always an impact.

Intellectual Property (IP) Crime

IP Crime can relate to a number of different infringements. For example, when commissioning designers to build a new website, you need to be sure that the agreement that is in place between your business and the web developer ensures the ownership of the IP in the content of the website to your business.