The government is to launch a new Intellectual Property (IP) unit in September to tackle online piracy.
According to the authorities, the new police unit will be dedicated to tackling online crime and IP theft such as counterfeit goods.
The IP Office will provide £2.5m in funding over two years to the City of London Police, which is the national lead force for fraud.
Lord Younger, minister for IP, said: ‘IP crime has long been a problem in the world of physical goods, but with the growing use of the internet, online IP crime is now an increasing threat to our creative industries.
‘These industries are worth more than £36bn a year and employ more than 1.5 million people.’
Figures quoted by the government revealed that an estimated seven million people a month visit sites offering illegal content in the UK.
Globally, it is projected that digitally pirated music, films and software will account for losses of around $80bn (£52bn), a figure which is expected to rise to $240bn by 2015.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) welcomed the creation of the new police unit.
Frances Moore, chief executive, IFPI, said: ‘I'm delighted the UK government has decided to create and fund this new unit dedicated to tackling intellectual property crime. Creative industries such as music are a vital part of our economy, providing jobs and investment.
‘Copyright is the engine that makes these industries tick and that is what makes the work of this new IP crime unit so valuable and important.’
According to the authorities, the new police unit will be dedicated to tackling online crime and IP theft such as counterfeit goods.
The IP Office will provide £2.5m in funding over two years to the City of London Police, which is the national lead force for fraud.
Lord Younger, minister for IP, said: ‘IP crime has long been a problem in the world of physical goods, but with the growing use of the internet, online IP crime is now an increasing threat to our creative industries.
‘These industries are worth more than £36bn a year and employ more than 1.5 million people.’
Figures quoted by the government revealed that an estimated seven million people a month visit sites offering illegal content in the UK.
Globally, it is projected that digitally pirated music, films and software will account for losses of around $80bn (£52bn), a figure which is expected to rise to $240bn by 2015.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) welcomed the creation of the new police unit.
Frances Moore, chief executive, IFPI, said: ‘I'm delighted the UK government has decided to create and fund this new unit dedicated to tackling intellectual property crime. Creative industries such as music are a vital part of our economy, providing jobs and investment.
‘Copyright is the engine that makes these industries tick and that is what makes the work of this new IP crime unit so valuable and important.’
