ALLIANCE AGAINST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT

That this House commends the Alliance Against Intellectual Property Theft on its 10th anniversary of campaigning to ensure intellectual property (IP) rights are respected and that IP theft is viewed as seriously as other forms of theft; notes the important economic and cultural contribution IP makes to the UK and the devastating harm caused by IP crime which sees UK industry losing an estimated £10 billion a year and further billions placed firmly in the hands of criminals; acknowledges the progress that has been made by the Government to ensure IP rights are properly protected and able to be effectively enforced but believes much more still needs to be done to ensure the legislative framework is fit for purpose; and urges the Government to ensure trading standards and others involved in IP enforcement have the funding and resources necessary to combat this continually growing criminal activity.