Seizures and discoveries include in Egypt, authorities impounding a large amount of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and arresting the key person involved in trafficking the drugs... Similarly in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control seized a huge amount of fake drugs and food products… 50,000 pirated books have been found in raids in Vietnam… 10 million counterfeit cigarettes have been seized during a raid in the UK… In Canada, 49,000 pirated DVDs have been found following a six-month investigation by police… Malaysian authorities also seized a large number of pirated CDs and DVDs.

Cases and outcomes include in Italy, 20 people being sentenced to jail terms of up to eight months for copyright infringement… In the UK, a man who smuggled over seven million counterfeit cigarettes into the country was given three years in prison for his part in the criminal enterprise… In the US, Philip Morris has filed a lawsuit against a retailer that allegedly sold counterfeit cigarettes.

Policy developments include in Taiwan, an amendment to the copyright laws adding a “three-strikes” rule; cutting off users internet connections after two written warnings… In the UK, the government is to increase the fine for intellectual property infringement from £5,000 to £50,000.

Studies and reports out include the United States Trade Representative (USTR) counterfeiting and piracy list, this year adding Canada to its “priority watch list”.