LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Los Angeles County Sheriff, Lee Baca, and Chief Geoff Spalding of the Beaverton (Oregon) Police Department joined representatives from private industry at a press conference today, on the heels of a series of raids conducted over the past week targeting alleged counterfeiters. Over 50 individuals have been arrested, and over $18 Million worth of counterfeit product has been taken off the streets as a result of this cooperative effort between the LA County Sheriff's Office and the Beaverton Police Department.

Following the announcement, IACC President, Robert Barchiesi, said, "In difficult economic times, consumers may be tempted by the cheap prices and cheap products offered by counterfeiters; but in times like these, it's even more important for consumers to support legitimate businesses who provide not only high-quality products, but who improve the quality of life in the community by creating jobs and paying taxes." Studies show that counterfeiting and piracy cost the State, and local governments, hundreds of millions of dollars each year in lost revenue.

The IACC applauds the collaboration between law enforcement in LA County and Beaverton, and commends the leadership of Sheriff Baca and Chief Spalding, and the efforts of all of the officers involved. "Counterfeiting is a crime that recognizes no geographic borders; but this week's arrests and seizures serve as an example of the substantial impact that can be made on this problem when law enforcement agencies work together in a coordinated fashion."

About the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC)

The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, Inc. (IACC) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization devoted solely to combating product counterfeiting and piracy. Formed in 1978, today the IACC is comprised of a broad cross section of business and industry from the automotive, apparel, pharmaceutical, software, entertainment, and consumer products sectors. The IACC's members -- which include many of the world's best-known brands -- have combined annual revenues exceeding $750 billion. The touchstone of the IACC's mission is to combat counterfeiting and piracy by promoting laws, regulations and directives designed to render the theft of intellectual property undesirable and unprofitable.

SOURCE International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition

RELATED LINKS
http://www.iacc.org