Newsroom
Media Inquiries
For media inquiries and breaking news, please email IPR Center Public Affairs at IPRCenterMedia@hsi.dhs.gov.
Recent News
Sports Fans Beware: Counterfeit NHL Merchandise on the Rise During 2024 Stanley Cup Final
WASHINGTON— With the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers competing in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) and the National Hockey League (NHL) are reminding sports fans to be wary of counterfeit sports-related merchandise and apparel during the championship series. Large sporting events, such as the Stanley Cup Final, are prime targets for increasingly savvy criminals who often set up sophisticated fake websites or e-commerce marketplace storefronts with the sole intent of scamming sports fans.
IPR Center Cautions Fans in Boston and Dallas to Be Aware of Fake Merchandise and Tickets During 2024 NBA Finals
WASHINGTON – As the 2024 NBA Finals tip off this week, fans from all over are heading to Boston and Dallas to support teams and purchase authentic gear and memorabilia. With high demand for merchandise during this year’s matchup, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, joins the NBA in cautioning fans to be on the lookout for counterfeiters attempting to sell unauthorized, knock-off products and tickets.
Criminal Research Specialists Open The Door On Multiple Counterfeit Cases
WASHINGTON – Tenacious, relentless, and determined to deliver results are but a few of the ways to describe the work of Criminal Research Specialists (CRS) who work behind the scenes using research methods and procedures to collect and analyze crime data for use in developing potential criminal investigations.
Success Stories
Pro Network - Counterfeit Goods and Wire Fraud
On July 8, 2022 Onur "Roy" Aksoy, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in the District of New Jersey for one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and to commit mail and wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; four counts of wire fraud; and three counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods in running a large-scale operation to traffic in fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment.
Digital Millennium - Copyright Act and Wire Fraud
In May 2018, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated a criminal investigation into TEAM XECUTER (TX), a financially motivated cyber-criminal organization (CO).
Operation Chain Reaction (OCR) - Counterfeit Goods and Wire Fraud
On October 20, 2022, Terry ROE, the third and final coconspirator in a large counterfeit military uniforms scheme, was sentenced in the District of Rhode Island to 24-months confinement and 3-years supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and to commit wire fraud.
FIFA World Cup - Live Streaming Sites Seized
As part of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) Digital Piracy Initiative, "In Our Sites," Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore seized a total of 71 separate internet domains between December 9 and 18, 2022 for live streaming World Cup matches, an infringement of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) copyrights.
Photos and Video
Operation Team Player
The IPR Center’s Operation Team Player is a year-round effort to catch people who try to pass off counterfeit sports merchandise, apparel, collectibles, memorabilia and even tickets. The IPR Center works with law enforcement and industry partners to intercept jerseys, hats, blankets, T-shirts, championship rings and a wide range of other gear in a global effort to protect people just like you.
World Intellectual Property Day 2022
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), in conjunction with Michigan State University’s Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP), hosted a roundtable discussion with youth entrepreneurs and Sean Williams, Co-Founder of Detroit -vs- Everyone to discuss brand protection to help creatives protect their business against intellectual property (IP) theft in support of World Intellectual Property Day 2022. This year’s theme focuses on young entrepreneurs and is titled, IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future.
IP Protect: An Outreach Initiative Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
On April 26, 2021, World Intellectual Property Day, the IPR Center in partnership with Michigan State University’s Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau announced the launch of “IP Protect.” This joint initiative provides resources – free of charge – to aid small to medium-sized enterprises in protecting themselves against IP theft, fraud and cyber security awareness.
Operation Intangibles