We also provided training to six additional foreign law enforcement agencies under the auspices of the international law enforcement academy in Bangkok, Thailand. U.S. Customs has also forged a close working relationship with those industries most affected by IPR violations. We re working with these corporations to train personnel at airports, seaports, mail facilities, land borders, and other locations where foreign imports are received on ways to spot counterfeit merchandise. In recent months, we have contacted major pharmaceutical manufacturers to learn about their IPR concerns. As a result, we ve developed training for Customs officers to help them identify shipments of imported pharmaceuticals that violate manufacturers IPR rights, as well as food and drug administration regulations.
Customs mandate now extends to the borderless world of cyberspace as well.
The internet has opened up vast new opportunities for legitimate business and criminal smuggling alike. In this new environment, our traditional enforcement remedies simply won t suffice. U.S. industries, particularly those involved in computer software, motion pictures and sound recordings, are at great risk from internet piracy. Cyber criminals are difficult to track. With a few simple keystrokes, from a computer anywhere in the world, they can ship stolen trademarks, traffic pirated music, or download copyrighted software.