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Computer Crime and
Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) 

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights: Copyrights, Trademarks and Trade Secrets

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  1. Intellectual Property Policy and Programs
  2. Intellectual Property Cases
  3. Prosecuting Intellectual Property Crimes Guidance
  4. Criminal Intellectual Property Laws
  5. Economic Espionage Act
  6. Intellectual Property Documents

I.    Intellectual Property Policy and Programs

The Department of Justice and other agencies are continually working to improve protections for intellectual property rights and the enforcement of intellectual property laws.  You can find information on DOJ initiatives, summits, and speeches in this section.  This section also contains information on U.S. interagency efforts, such as NIPLECC, as well as international efforts to protect intellectual property rights.
  1. Joint Anti-Piracy Initiative Launched on July 23, 1999
  2. DOJ Speaks out on Intellectual Property Rights
  3. The Audio Home Recording Act and Napster

II.    Intellectual Property Cases

Here you can find information about many of the criminal intellectual property cases that the Department of Justice has prosecuted.  Press releases regarding these cases may be found here as well.

  1. Recently Prosecuted Intellectual Property Rights Cases
  2. Operation "Counter Copy"

III.    Prosecuting Intellectual Property Crimes Guidance

This manual, written by the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, provides guidance to law enforcement on the investigation and prosecution of violations of federal intellectual property laws.  Access the manual and other guidance via the links below.

    1. Prosecuting Intellectual Property Crimes Manual
    2. Deciding Whether to Prosecute an Intellectual Property Case, David Goldstone, USA Bulletin (March 2001)
IV.    Criminal Intellectual Property Laws
This is a comprehensive listing of federal criminal laws that pertain to the protection of intellectual property rights.  Find information relating to the NET Act, the Economic Espionage Act, and other federal statutes.
     A.  Federal Statutes Protecting Intellectual Property Rights
     B.  The No Electronic Theft (NET) Act
     C.  The Economic Espionage Act
V.    The Economic Espionage Act
Pursuant to 28 CFR § 0.64-5, for five years after the enactment of the EEA, all prosecutions brought under 18 U.S.C. § 1831 and 1832 must be approved by the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section ("CCIPS") is the contact point for facilitating approval of all charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1832. More information on the Economic Espionage Act is available through this link.

VI.    Intellectual Property Documents

This is a reverse chronological listing of all intellectual property-related documents contained in this site.  If you can’t find a document you are looking for in one of the above sections, try looking here.

 Go to . . . CCIPS home page || Justice Department home page
Updated page April 17, 2001
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