Thrifty Thinking: Intellectual Property Theft

According to research conducted by the National Crime Prevention Council, more than 3 in 4 adults believe illegal downloads and counterfeit products are the same as robbing someone on the street, yet 68% still willingly make these purchases to ‘save money.’ Most adult Americans agree that piracy and counterfeit products are a problem, but don't believe anyone is getting hurt by making such purchases or that these actions can have an impact on the safety and health of our loved ones. But the truth is, 'pirated' and counterfeit products put lives at risk. For instance, nobody would buy dangerous medicines on purpose. But when you buy prescription or even over-the-counter drugs online from unknown sources, you could be doing just that. Counterfeit products such as extension cords or cell phones are dangerous as well. Fake products are made without safety standards and they put you and your family at risk. Illegal downloads and other pirated products expose your computer to viruses and create an opportunity for criminals to steal your identity.

The NCPC has a great "Get Real" website to advocate for the purchase of genuine products, not pirated or counterfeit versions. I recently had the chance to interview Michelle Boykins, director of communications and marketing for the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) about intellectual property theft.

1.   What exactly is intellectual property theft?In our survey last year the National Crime Prevention Council learned most people could not define the term intellectual property.  However, teens and young adults are becoming increasingly more knowledgeable about the term.  Intellectual property theft is anyone who obtains, sells, copies, or distributes copyrighted material without permission of the originator.  I often tell people to imagine they have been asked to create a new product with the expectation of getting paid for their work.  At the completion of the product someone else takes their work and makes millions – all without sharing the wealth or attributing them as the original creator.  This is often the scenario of intellectual property theft.

2.   Why should we be concerned, even if we don't think we have any intellectual property?Intellectual property (IP) theft is a growing concern because it threatens our health and safety as well as the economy.  Counterfeit pharmaceuticals contain ingredients from floor wax to antifreeze but rarely the active ingredients necessary to help the consumer get better.  Other counterfeit products from shoes to extension cords expose us to potential injuries and fire hazards.   Finally, IP industries account for 27.7 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy.  At a time where our economy is struggling to bounce back, we can’t afford to lose this valuable industry or the jobs attached to it.

3.   How common place is intellectual property theft?The lure of the bargain seems to overcome their moral compass every time.  Sixty-eight percent still willingly purchase counterfeit products even though two out of three adults agree that piracy and counterfeit products are a problem. 

4.   How does it hurt us, if we think we may be saving money by getting something for free or a knockoff for cheaper?Many think that buying counterfeit or pirated products is victimless but every rock thrown into a pond has a ripple effect.  IP has a huge ripple effect that even bolsters international organized crime and domestic gang activities – including drug trafficking and violence. 

5.   What can we do about it?It all starts with each of us.  We need the public to stop purchasing counterfeit products and downloading illegal content.  When you consider the threat to our health and safety and to the economy, you can’t help but see that in the end we all pay a hefty price for that so-called “bargain” of counterfeit products and illegal downloads.