Seizures and discoveries last week include one in the US that involved 15,000 pairs of fake Nike shoes worth an estimated $750,000… 160,000 pirated copies of Microsoft software were seized across 14 Latin American countries… Similarly, 12,000 pirated software discs were seized in the UK … A huge seizure took place in Malaysia yielding over 200,000 pirated DVDs… Over 49,000 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes were found by US Customs and Border Protection officers.

Cases and outcomes last week include five officials from a Chinese pharmaceutical company being given up to seven years in prison for selling a tainted antibiotic that was responsible for more than a dozen deaths.

Policy developments last week include new tougher laws being put in place in India to deal with those involved in counterfeiting and piracy in the country… There was also a US federal congressional hearing that discussed ways to stop the production and distribution of counterfeit prescription drugs.

Studies and reports out last week include the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) releasing its annual report on worldwide intellectual property rights and enforcement called the “2008 Special 301 Report”… The “2007 China’s software piracy rate survey” has found that China’s software piracy rate dropped by four percentage points in 2007… A survey of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Industry called "Innovation at Risk - Intellectual Property Challenges and Opportunities", found that the industry loses $4 billion annually to IP infringement.