Interpol creates database for Intellectual Property crimes [International]

In a bid to curtail intellectual property (IP) crimes, the Interpol has joined hands with the US Chamber of Commerce to create a full-fledged database for all the member-countries. This was announced here Tuesday by Interpol general secretary Ron Noble while addressing the second Annual Global Forum on Innovation, Creativity and Intellectual Property.

He added that a trial database for IP crimes was launched 15 months back with 18 member-countries sending information. This has now increased to 54 members. “The decision to launch a database for IP crimes was taken following the success of the pilot project for a database launched for stolen passports,” Noble said on the sidelines of the conference.

He said IP criminals were smart and well resourced, with in-depth knowledge about each country. “The Interpol database can play an important role if all the industries and countries send in information about these crimes,” he added.

David Chavern, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the US Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our task is to engage and defeat our opponents and ensure that global growth is not derailed by the appropriation of ideas that individuals and companies paid for with their time, energy and money.”

He added that the partnership between the Interpol and US Chamber of Commerce would tackle the problem, which has so far been perceived to be unsolvable. According to a study conducted by the Interpol, around 10 percent of all the products sold in the world are counterfeit.

“Any product that is desirable among the public is pirated and counterfeited,” Chavern said.
Noble added: “If your product is not pirated or counterfeited then it is not popular.” The two-day forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in collaboration with the US Chamber of Commerce and the Interpol is an opportunity for industry leaders from around the world to discuss and make substantive progress on issues like judicial remedies for IP infringement, IP protection in a digital age and consumer education and awareness. The forum is being held in India as this country is an easy target for IP crimes.

“For example, Bollywood is suffering tremendously with pirated movie CDs and DVDs,” said George Newton, deputy general secretary of Interpol. Asked whether Interpol would do something about the money laundering in IP crimes, Noble said: “Although chasing the money is important, first we need to identify the criminals.” Delegates from Brazil, China, France, Ireland, Singapore, Japan and the US are attending the conference.