IP and Illicit Trade Enforcement Inquiry
APPG for Intellectual Property publishes new report on IP enforcement
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Intellectual Property has today published a new report on the UK’s IP enforcement landscape, following a three-month inquiry into how the UK can respond to increasingly organised, sophisticated IP crime.
The inquiry gathered evidence and insight from across industry, rightsholders and enforcement stakeholders, and was developed as the Intellectual Property Office prepares to renew its Counter-Infringement Strategy next year.
Recommendations
The report makes five key recommendations:
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Follow the Money
Targeting the revenue streams that sustain IP crime, working with payment providers.
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Platform business verification
A robust, standardised “Know Your Business Customer” regime, requiring platforms to verify seller identities and stop repeat offenders.
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Multi-year funding for PIPCU
Give specialist enforcement teams like PIPCU the stability to plan and scale their work.
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Greater information-sharing powers
A clearer statutory framework to support intelligence-sharing between enforcement bodies, rightsholders, platforms and intermediaries.
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Close enforcement capacity gaps
Targeted investment in specialist investigators and digital tools.
Download the full report
Quote from the Chair, Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP:
“IP crime is changing fast. It’s become more organised and more sophisticated. But through this inquiry, we’ve also seen what works. This report sets out how we build on that success and ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of enforcement.”