Intellectual Property Office Intelligence Hub scoops BPI Award for their continued efforts to combat music piracy
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Intelligence Hub has been given a BPI award in recognition of their continued efforts to combat music piracy.
The award acknowledges the Hub’s professionalism and dedication in the investigation of organised criminal groups who are involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of counterfeit music.
This year alone the Hub has assisted in over 130 investigations, often identifying the main offender, which has allowed the BPI and Enforcement agencies to achieve successful investigations.
The
Hub is an important part of the Intellectual Property Office’s efforts to assist and co-ordinate the
UK’s response to IP crime. Initiatives like the IP
Crime Group and their work to raise awareness and
understanding all compliment this. The 2009 Annual IP Crime Report 
(1.83Mb) highlights the great progress industry, enforcement
agencies and government are making by working together.
Ian Fletcher, CEO of the Intellectual Property Office, comments:
"I am very proud of the Hub’s achievements in this area and am really pleased that the BPI has decided to acknowledge the efforts of the Hub with this award.
"Partnerships are continually developing and enabling us to tackle criminal organisations such as the DV8 group head on.
"The operation in June this year saw the IPO work together with the City of London Police and the BPI to greatly disrupt the pre-release music leaking group; recovering a substantial quantity of promotional CDs and computer equipment and software used in connection with ripping and digitising content.
"Such successes show that a partnership approach is vital to combating counterfeiting and piracy and we will remain committed to playing our part."
David Wood, Director of Anti Piracy at the BPI said:
"The IPO Intelligence Hub is a key partner in our fight to protect our members’ rights and I wish to acknowledge their professionalism and dedication in helping us to achieve this. With their assistance, we have been able to develop over 130 criminal investigations into a number of individuals and groups causing significant harm to our industry.
"As a result we have already seen a number of arrests ranging from those behind two release groups and a major bit torrent indexing site to organised crime gangs who were operating in the north west of England."
Date of release: 21 October 2009