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The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) is celebrating the success of new legislative powers and partnership working in the ongoing fight against intellectual property (IP) crime.
Using the new legislation, the Proceeds of Crime Act, the UK-IPO can confiscate assets.
It put its powers to use when a Sheffield dealer was caught selling counterfeit designer goods worth millions of pounds.
She was told to pay back the proceeds - £2.8 million – or face ten years in prison.
In another recent success major disruption of physical and online crime groups was a result of a pilot scheme between intelligence and anti-piracy units, trading standards, police and asset recovery teams.
UK-IPO chief executive Ian Fletcher said: "The UK-IPO is committed to supporting and developing a partner agency approach in the ongoing fight against IP crime.
"This is all part of our overall efforts to ensure that the value of creativity and innovation is maximised for the benefit of the UK."
Detective Sergeant Graham Mogg added that those involved in IP infringement undermine community values, impact on legitimate businesses and damage the economy.
The UK-IPO became an operating name of the Patent Office in April 2007.
It is responsible for granting IP rights relating to patents, designs, trademarks and copyright in the UK.
