NC Anti-Counterfeiting Trademark Task Force Development and Enhancement Project

This program is authorized by the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (Intellectual Property Enforcement) (Pub. L. No. 113-6, 127 Stat. 198, 253) and informed by section 401 of Public Law 110-403, which authorizes the Department to provide funding to support state and local intellectual property enforcement efforts. The Intellectual Property Theft Enforcement Program is designed to provide national support and improve the capacity of state, local, and tribal criminal justice systems to address intellectual property criminal enforcement, including prosecution, prevention, training, and technical assistance. This program is generally informed by section 401 of Public law 110-403, which authorizes the Department to provide funding to support state and local intellectual property crime enforcement efforts.

The North Carolina Secretary of State (NCSOS) possesses criminal jurisdiction for enforcement of trademark violations in all 100 counties within the State of North Carolina. The NCSOS now has 3.5 full-time sworn investigator equivalents to cover the vast territory. To supplement this effort and leverage resources to the maximum extent, the NCSOS created a standing Anti-Counterfeiting Trademark Task Force (TM Task Force) in 2004. The TM Task Force has grown to its current membership of 77, representing 53 separate law enforcement agencies across North Carolina. The 2013-15 NC Anti-Counterfeiting Trademark Task Force Development and Enhancement Project will implement a coordinated enforcement strategy to identify suspects and target multi-level participants, as well as provide the additional resource support necessary to ensure appropriate prosecutorial action is taken. The goal of this program is criminal investigation, prosecution, prevention, and education as it relates to intellectual property enforcement.

NCA/NCF