Counterfeiting and piracy were once limited to T-shirts and music sold on street corners. Today, copyright owners encounter infringers more often than customers. Counterfeit goods are sold via the Internet to consumers and wind their way through supply chains into everything from cell phones to weapons platforms. Rights owners suffer brand diminution and economic loss. Counterfeits threaten public health and safety, causing unscheduled maintenance, property damage, physical injury, and even death. Some counterfeits imperil national security by jeopardizing military readiness and mission success enabling cyber espionage, while negatively impacting the safety of service members. Theft of trade secrets derails fair competition and deprives businesses of the fruits of their investments. Economic espionage can imperil national security through the compromise of military technologies.

In Criminal Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: U.S. Perspective, career federal