A National Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment, 2005 to 2008

Email ip-pi@rcmp-grc.gc.ca for the full report.

Key Findings

• Traditionally viewed as being victimless, Intellectual Property (IP) crime has become a source of health and safety concern in Canada. Additionally, IP crime poses a threat to Canada’s economic integrity and international reputation.
• Despite Canadians’ awareness of the risks posed by the purchase of counterfeit goods, there is a continued demand for counterfeit products. The depressed economy and the availability of such goods may play a role in the increasing demand for counterfeit and pirated products.
• Counterfeiting and piracy techniques have become more sophisticated rendering detection more difficult than ever.
• Counterfeiters utilize a variety of methods to evade detection at Canada’s international borders.
• IP Criminals make up an eclectic demographic ranging from organized crime (OC) groups, to small-scale retailers who sell small quantities of IP-infringing goods to supplement their income.
• Although the RCMP investigated nearly 1,500 cases of IP crime between 2005 and 2008, these numbers are believed to be a fraction of the true IP crime situation in Canada.
• China (including Hong Kong) is the most common source/transit country for counterfeit goods imported into Canada. The United States (US), given its proximity to Canada, is the second most common source/transit country for counterfeit goods imported into Canada.
• Canada has also been identified as a source of pirated DVD and CD media, primarily for domestic consumption. However, some investigations have revealed Canada as a source country for pirated media found online, as well as a transit country for various IP-infringing goods.