The Italian Government has deployed federal troops to Naples to combat organized crime activities. From the LA Times: The Italian government Tuesday ordered the deployment of a military task force to fight a wave of violence by the Neapolitan mafia, which culminated last week in the slayings of six African immigrants in a suspected feud over drug [...]

MPAA officials are targeting the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the state of Texas  for its huge bootleg movie trafficking. From the Houston Chronicle: The Motion Picture Association of America has opened an anti-piracy office in Irving using undercover agents to shut down one of the country’s largest hubs for illegal bootleg activity, officials said. So far this year, [...]

Companies in the United States are pushing for new legislation to tackle the issue of organized retail crime in stores across the country. From the AP (via Portfolio): Companies including Walgreen Co. asked a U.S. House Committee on Monday to crack down on organized retail crime, but online retailers such as eBay Inc. said some of the [...]

Microsoft has cut the price of its 2007 Office Suite in China for the next several weeks in an attempt to convert pirated users into legitimate consumers. From Reuters: Microsoft Corp has cut the selling price in China of one of its software products by over 70 percent to counter rampant piracy. It is the first special offer [...]

In an attempt to protect its local gambling industry, the US State of Kentucky is asking a court to allow it to seize 140 domain names of Internet gambling sites. From the Lexington Herald-Leader: Kentucky is commandeering 141 domain names of Internet gambling sites in a novel legal move to crack down on the unregulated industry. Franklin Circuit [...]

Arms Trafficker Victor Bout is currently in Thailand fighting extradition to the United States. From Reuters: A lawyer for a suspected Russian arms dealer urged a court in Thailand on Monday to refuse a U.S. request to hand him over for trial. U.S. prosecutors say Viktor Bout, arrested in Bangkok in an American sting operation after arriving from [...]

Google testified in front of the US Commerce Department against the proposed treaty on copyright protection that is being pushed by the recording and movie industry. From Bloomberg News: Internet companies led by Google Inc. joined groups representing Web users in challenging the Bush administration’s bid to toughen international enforcement against copyright pirates. Testifying before Commerce Department in [...]

The BBC is reporting that the number of counterfeit British Pound coins in circulation has doubled in the last 5 years. From BBC News: The number of fake £1 coins in circulation has doubled in the last five years and now stands at more than 30 million, the BBC has learned. This means one in every 50 pound [...]

The kidnappers of 11 Europeans and 8 Egyptians in Cairo has publicly demanded $6 million in ransom. From the IHT: The kidnappers of 11 European tourists and 8 Egyptians who were taken in a remote desert area of southwestern Egypt on Friday night have demanded $6 million to free them, an Egyptian government official said early Tuesday. [...]

A government report in South Korea has found that luxury brand Chanel is the most counterfeited brand in the country. From The Korea Times: French luxury brand Chanel most frequently falls victim to widespread trademark breaches in South Korea, which continues to grapple with rampant circulation of fake designer products, a government report showed Sunday. The market for [...]