euro news2708_news 29/08/2015 09:10 Page 5
IP crime unit claims infringing
website disruption
specialist police operation that
disrupts illegal websites providing
access to films, TV, books, music
and games has seen major success. Since
the Police Intellectual Property Crime
Unit (PIPCU) launched Operation
Creative and the Infringing Website List
(IWL) in 2013, there has been a 73%
decrease in advertising from the UK’s top
ad spending companies on copyright
infringing websites.
Highlights include the automotive, food and
drink and real estate sectors, whose advertising
has almost entirely stopped appearing on pirate
sites.
Reducing advertising on illegal sites is one of
the key aims of Operation Creative as it is one of
the main generators of criminal profits. A report
by the Digital Citizens Alliance estimated that in
2013 piracy websites generated $227m from
advertising. The appearance of adverts from
established brands on illegal websites lends sites
a look of legitimacy. Therefore a decrease in
advertising from reputable brands will help
consumers realise these sites are neither official
nor legal.
PIPCU’s pilot study in 2013 also showed that
almost half (46%) of total ads served to
copyright infringing websites often clicked
through to websites containing malware and
viruses or even fraudulent scams.
PIPCU is a specialist national police unit
dedicated to protecting UK industries ]