Intellectual Property Theft as Blood Sport

The escalation of physical, Internet and computing hardware and software has not put a dent in the thefts of intellectual property (IP) [1]. Although the referenced document stated that there was a 20 percent increase in the number of civil cases from 1994 to 2002, the alarming statistic is that, 'Suspects with copyright violation as the lead charge comprised more than half (52 percent) of the IP referrals in 2002.' These cases are handled in both Civil and Federal courts. It may not be common knowledge, but IP 'rights are rooted in copyright and patent protections in the U.S. Constitution' [2].