Overseas Work

CCIPS places a high priority on fostering international cooperation and coordination in its intellectual property enforcement efforts, to combat cybercrime and to effectively obtain and use electronic evidence.  Building relationships between American law enforcement and our counterparts overseas is the most effective method of ensuring success in multi-national cases.  These relationships are built through international casework as well as through training and outreach. 

In addition, since 2006, the Department of Justice has deployed attorneys overseas at U.S. Embassies or Consulates as regional Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinators (“IPLECs”) and, since 2015, cyber legal advisors.  In 2018, the IPLEC and cyber legal advisor positions were combined to form DOJ’s expanded Global Law Enforcement Network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (“ICHIP”) attorney advisors.  CCIPS, in conjunction with the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training, plays a key role in training these attorneys and coordinating their enforcement efforts.

INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER HACKING AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (ICHIP) NETWORK

• The Program deploys DOJ Attorneys overseas (Abuja, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hong Kong S.A.R. and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Bucharest, Romania, Zagreb, Croatia and The Hague, Netherlands; and (São Paulo, Brazil and Panama City, Panama) to:
   
  • assess the capacity of law enforcement authorities throughout the region to enforce intellectual property rights (IPR) and combat cybercrime;
     
  • develop and deliver training designed to enhance the capacity of justice sector personnel to enforce IPR and combat cybercrime;
     
  • assist in developing or strengthening institutions dedicated to enforcing IPR and combatting cybercrime;
     
  • monitor regional trends in IPR protection and computer crimes; and
     
  • provide expert assistance in support of the United States’ IPR and cybercrime policies and initiatives in the region.
    
     
• In addition, a Dark Web and Cryptocurrency ICHIP and an Internet-Based Fraud and Public Health ICHIP are stationed in Washington, D.C. and work with the GLEN to support international capacity building aimed at countering cybercrime and IP criminals in the context of transnational organized crime.
   
• Contact Information: ICHIP@usdoj.gov

INTERNATIONAL LAW DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING

CCIPS attorneys, paralegals, and Cybercrime Lab personnel participate in a wide range of international activities aimed to promote the development of law, improve international law enforcement cooperation, and enable other countries to better investigate and prosecute cybercrime and intellectual property crime and obtain and use electronic evidence. 

CCIPS represents the Department of Justice in international organizations such as the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention Committee, G7 High-Tech Crime sub-group, and the United Nations Crime Commission.

In addition, CCIPS provides training and technical assistance to countries worldwide.  Since its inception, CCIPS has trained thousands of foreign investigators, prosecutors, judges, and other officials on a wide variety of topics related to intellectual property rights enforcement and combatting crimes involving computers and networks.