New Intellectual Property Crime Unit to clamp down on piracy

In what is being described as an innovative new strategy”, a new Intellectual Property Crime Unit has been formed to help fight UK piracy.

The Unit has the power to seize assets and shut down sites found to be hosting pirated material.

Furthermore, it pledges to work with online advertisers, payment service providers and overseas authorities to disrupt” the revenue streams of such websites.

"The IP Crime Unit is the first of its kind in Europe,” BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor stated. It will help make the Internet safer for consumers and boost the UK’s world-leading music and creative industries. We are encouraged that Government is beginning to support innovative music businesses that will create jobs and growth for the future.”

The BPI added that it hopes the move will encourage investment in music, help artists and protect consumers who want to get music online”.