Tag: counterfeit names

Cops seize 292 domain names

euroflagzEuropol, in conjunction with US authorities and 25 police forces worldwide said 292 domain names used to sell counterfeit products have been seized.

Trademark holders had tipped the authorities off that counterfeit goods were being sold online and the domain names concerned are now in the hands of governments which formed part of the operation.

If people now go to the sites that formerly sold counterfeit goods, they will see a banner telling them the site has been seized.

Counterfeit products being sold included luxury goods, electronics, movies, music, pharmaceutical kit and other stuff.

The seizure is part of the authorities’ “in Our Sites” initiative aimed to protect people from buying crooked gear.  The operation has now seized 1,829 domain names since November 2012.

Rob Wainwright, director of Europol, said: “The infringements of intellectual property rights is a growing problem in our economies and for millions of producers and consumers.  Europol is committed to crack down on the criminal networks responsible.”