C.B.P. News Release

CBP, ICE Release Annual Report on Counterfeit Goods Seized

(Thursday, December 03, 2009)

Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced today that in fiscal year 2009 they made 14,841 seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods with a total domestic value of $260.7 million.

The annual intellectual property rights report is now available on the CBP and ICE Web site.

Imports of counterfeit and pirated goods undermine the economic vitality of the United States directly by reducing sales of legitimate goods, and indirectly by reducing employment, incentives to engage in research and development, and tax revenues. Additionally, these goods can threaten the safety of consumers and the security of the United States if the goods are of inferior quality and are used in health care or potentially hazardous consumer goods, or in critical infrastructure such as defense, financial, and telecommunications systems. The theft of intellectual property also undermines the rule of law and often funds organized crime.

“Current economic conditions make CBP’s work to stop trade in counterfeited and pirated goods even more significant,â€