Investigators from around the world worked together to seize hundreds of domain names Monday being used to sell counterfeit merchandise online.
Law enforcement agencies from eight countries partnered to take down 690 domain names seized as part of an ongoing operation called ‘In Our Sites – Transatlantic 3.’ The operation was coordinated by Europol for the participating EU Member States as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) for the US.
According to Europol, the websites were set up to trick customers into buying counterfeit products. The IPR Center accounted 297 domain name seizures in the US. Through Europol Member States, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom 393 domain names were seized. Operations were also conducted this year by Hong Kong Customs as well.
