The City of London's Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) is replacing ads with anti-piracy warnings on illegal websites.
PIPCU is collaborating with tech provider Project Sunblock to replace brand adverts with police banners on sites hosting copyright-infringing content.
According to the authorities, the banner will inform visitors that the site is under investigation for infringing copyright and advise them to leave.
Infringing websites are contacted by PIPCU and given the chance to start operating legally. Those that choose not to could see their site suspended by the domain registrar.
DCI Andy Fyfe, head of PIPCU, said: ‘This new initiative is another step forward for the unit in tackling intellectual property crime and disrupting criminal profits. Copyright infringing websites are making huge sums of money though advert placement, therefore disrupting advertising on these sites is crucial and this is why it is an integral part of Operation Creative.
‘This work also helps us to protect consumers. When adverts from well known brands appear on illegal websites, they lend them a look of legitimacy and inadvertently fool consumers into thinking the site is authentic.’
Operation Creative is the name of the collaborative project between the police and the ad industries to stop websites from offering access to copyright-infringing content.
Visit the PIPCU website for more information on the initiative.
PIPCU is collaborating with tech provider Project Sunblock to replace brand adverts with police banners on sites hosting copyright-infringing content.
According to the authorities, the banner will inform visitors that the site is under investigation for infringing copyright and advise them to leave.
Infringing websites are contacted by PIPCU and given the chance to start operating legally. Those that choose not to could see their site suspended by the domain registrar.
DCI Andy Fyfe, head of PIPCU, said: ‘This new initiative is another step forward for the unit in tackling intellectual property crime and disrupting criminal profits. Copyright infringing websites are making huge sums of money though advert placement, therefore disrupting advertising on these sites is crucial and this is why it is an integral part of Operation Creative.
‘This work also helps us to protect consumers. When adverts from well known brands appear on illegal websites, they lend them a look of legitimacy and inadvertently fool consumers into thinking the site is authentic.’
Operation Creative is the name of the collaborative project between the police and the ad industries to stop websites from offering access to copyright-infringing content.
Visit the PIPCU website for more information on the initiative.
