Seizures and discoveries include a huge haul of 22 million counterfeit cigarettes in the UK… Similarly, in a separate raid in the UK, 5 million fake cigarettes were seized … Also in the UK designer shoes worth £2.3 million were seized at a port… In the US, a raid netted $65,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise… In India, a large consignment of soap bearing fake brand names was seized.

Cases and outcomes include the conviction of a man in the US, for taking part in a multimillion-dollar syndicate selling counterfeit cigarettes, Viagra and other goods. The government claims that money from the sale of these goods went to fund the Lebanese group, Hezbollah… A woman in the US has pleaded guilty to selling more than $1 million worth of counterfeit designer goods… In the UK, a woman has been ordered to pay back more than £50,000 after running a fake designer goods racket from her garage.

Policy developments include in the UK, the government intending to pass regulations requiring ISPs to inform customers they suspect of illegally downloading that they are breaking the law… The US Food and Drug Administration launched a voluntary pilot program that will help improve the safety of drugs produced outside the country.

Studies and reports out include the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry releasing their Digital Music Report 2009, which found that 95% of music downloads are still illegal even though digital single sales increased by around 25% last year.