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DRCPIM seizes more than 2 million of counterfeit products in 2015.

What is the goal of your specialized agency?

Valéria – DRCPIM investigates copyright infringement crimes and against intellectual property. Putting it simply, we can say that this group is composed by toys bearing children´s books characters. The CDs and DVDs with intellectual works such as music titles, movies, and games for videogames, as well as clothing, shoes, and counterfeit sunglasses, bearing expensive and well known brands. That means, any illegal reproduction and non authorization of any goods – material or intellectual – that could be copied or imitated, and that could also, generate hazard to safety and consumer´s health.

What are these hazards?

Valéria – What we fund the most are counterfeit toys that contain harmful substances to health. There are the cases of sunglasses, that do not have adequate protection against UV light, and even glasses, that continuous use can induce displacement of the optical center. Another common item is running shoes. It may not have the proper cushioning for this activity. In addition, we have seized counterfeit paint, bearings for cars, and cosmetics with Formaldehyde above recommended levels.

How is the team´s performance to suppress piracy?

Valéria – We focus our efforts on identifying and charging criminally distributors, suppliers, and product manufacturers. We work in three different ways: we have a complaint line open to the community; an intelligence department that identifies gang´s plot and point of sales, manufacture and warehouse of counterfeit products; and establishing partnerships with associations that fight against counterfeiting.

In 2015, which were the Best results?

Valéria – We seized 2.022.692 counterfeit products such as toys, shoes, cosmetics and clothes. Last year, 267 people were charged with illegal products for criminal practices.

How are the gangs charged?

Valéria – In cases of trademarks violations, the sentence can be up to 4 years in jail. If someone is caught manufacturing, selling, or exposing goods that violates this right will be escorted to the police station and will have the products seized. In cases of counterfeit brands, the crime is against intellectual property, and the sentence varies to 3 months in jail. The population also needs to understand the counterfeiting is a crime and contributes to the criminal cycle.

Read more: Agência Brasil