INTERPOL Washington Attends 12th Annual International Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Conference

Held September 25-26, the International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference sought to shape effective enforcement strategies in fighting international property violations. INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau—was represented by the Assistant Director for Transnational Crime, Paul Layman.

The conference participants used operational case studies, best practices, and industry perspectives to address key IP issues related to artificial intelligence, crypto currencies, organized crime, money laundering, and free trade zones. The United States estimates the costs of intellectual property theft to the U.S. economy to be as high as $600 billion per year. These thefts damage American companies and threaten national security.

“The IPR conference provides INTERPOL Washington an opportunity to collaborate with our law enforcement counterparts across the globe to address international cooperation in enhancing international property protection, said Layman. “Sharing best practices in this crucial area of transnational crime will enable us to better support our U.S. law enforcement partners as they fight intellectual property crimes.”

Co-organized by the Dubai Police, the UAE Ministry of Interior and INTERPOL, in partnership with UL (Underwriters Laboratories), the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition and the Emirates IP Association (EIPA), this gathering marked the first time the conference was held in the Middle East.

A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington is co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the designated representative to INTERPOL on behalf of the Attorney General, INTERPOL Washington serves as the national point of contact for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States.