Trademark World Magazine
Police action halts online infringement
Simon Chapman of Lewis Silkin shows how infringement on the internet shapes the actions rights owners can take
While trademark proprietors have long battled to deal with the threat of unauthorised use of their marks, including in respect
of counterfeit products and grey imports, at least the rules of engagement were relatively settled and straightforward. The
internet changed that, and it led to a number of problems, including: identifying where and when the wrongdoing had taken
place; what the relevant jurisdiction is; how to gather evidence; and the greater anonymity of wrongdoers – all of which rights
owners have had to grapple with. Recent action taken by the Metropolitan Police’s Central e-Crime unit (PCeU) may have helped
redress the balance.