Feds Seize Over 20,500 Domain Names For Selling Counterfeit Products

In a coordinated International cyber operation, law enforcement agencies accept seized over 20,520 website domains for illegally selling counterfeit products, including luxury products, sportswear, electronics, pharmaceuticals too online piracy on e-commerce platforms too social networks.

Counterfeiting is a shape of trademark infringement that involves the manufacturing and/or distribution of imitation lookalike branded products amongst a primary usage to confuse or dupe consumers into buying them.

The operation, dubbed "In Our Sites (Project TransAtlantic VIII)," was conducted yesteryear Europol inwards association amongst the Interpol, the US National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre (NIPRCC), FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ), too law enforcement government from 27 European Member States.

Counterfeit goods are a huge business, every bit the International Trademark Association suggested that or hence $460 billion worth of counterfeit goods were bought too sold concluding yr alone.

"Targeting copyright-infringing websites that marketplace pose unsafe counterfeit goods to consumers too engage inwards other forms of intellectual holding theft volition choke along to live on a priority for law enforcement," said acting IPR Center Director Nick.

"Strengthening our collaboration amongst constabulary government or hence the the world too leaders of manufacture volition reinforce the crackdown on IP crimes, too demonstrate that in that location is no prophylactic haven for criminals committing these illicit activities."

Europol has non soundless disclosed names of seized domains inwards its press release, too a spokesperson told The Hacker News that the "participating countries accept non allowed us [Europol] to unloosen whatsoever of the names yet."

The seized domains accept straightaway been displaying the official seals from diverse law enforcement departments, along amongst a message that reads:

This domain elevate has been seized

Operation inwards Our Sites-Project TransAtlantic VIII is a coordinated endeavor yesteryear the U.S., European, South American too Asian law enforcement agencies targeting websites too their operations that sell counterfeit goods.

Counterfeit items—range from clothes, bags, watches, perfume, cosmetics, electricals, too pirate DVDs, CDs, calculator software, too games—are straightaway existence hence primarily sold online that spotting divergence betwixt imitation too genuine items is becoming much harder.

In their cope against the online merchandise of counterfeit goods, Europol has seized a full of 7,776 websites inwards previous "In Our Sites" (IOS) editions. IOS was implemented inwards 2014 too has since increased significantly.

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