The Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force recently cracked down on L.A. area piracy with 'Operation Chimney Sweep,' which led to 10 arrests and $4 million seizure of pirated goods. This latest effort is the largest counterfeit goods seizure in Los Angeles, and shows a growing level of cooperation among copyright holders and state/federal agencies.
Law enforcement specifically went after counterfeit goods, but pirated music, movies, and other goods were also found.
"People who make counterfeit goods are stealing, plain and simple. It’s the same as picking someone’s pocket or shoplifting. We lose more than 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars to our economy each year because of these crimes," said Wendy Greuel, L.A. City Controller, in a public statement. "This should serve as a wake-up call, not only to the criminals that produce and sell these illegal goods, but to all of the holiday shoppers out there."
Both the RIAA and MPAA spoke in favor of this piracy crackdown, with copyright groups seeking additional government involvement.
City officials also said piracy is "serious business" that the city and county vowed to fight in the future. Since its debut in 2004, the new LA task force have cracked down by serving 181 search warrants, arresting almost 500 people, and seizing more than $90 million in counterfeit materials.
The fight against pirated and counterfeit goods has taken a drastic change over the past five years -- both pirated and counterfeit goods can be found in-person and online. State and federal authorities have stepped up enforcement against counterfeit and otherwise illegally sold products and pirated material.
This type of multi-agency crackdown against counterfeit and pirated goods should continue well into 2011, with efforts expected to increase. Pres. Obama's administration has already become involved with crackdowns against pirates.
