From News@AASA

A recent report by the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC) has good news for AASA and the Brand Protection Council: The United States making strides in the fight against counterfeiting.

The report shows that the U.S. Department of Justice has doubled the number of criminal sentences that it has imposed since 2005. The Department of Homeland Security has seized approximately $200 million worth of goods in 2007, which is 27 percent more than 2006. The report also states that there has been an increase in counterfeit goods seized at borders.

NIPLECC states that the United States must continue to make counterfeiting a priority since these goods still pose a "dramatic health and safety risk." NIPLECC is composed of five federal agencies that are involved in IP enforcement issues: Homeland Security and Justice, the State Department, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The complete NIPLECC report is available at the link at right or on the home page of the AASA website.