Operation D-Elite, Operation FastLink, and Operation Cisco Raider are just three of the successful initiatives launched by US law enforcement to keep the evils of counterfeiting and piracy at bay.

Operation D-Elite fights peer-to-peer file sharing using BitTorrent technology.

A joint enforcement action by the FBI and the US Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Operation D-Elite fights the illegal distribution of copyrighted movies, software, games and music over P2P networks employing the BitTorrent file distribution technology.

This federal crackdown had previously targeted leading members of the technologically sophisticated Elite Torrents, which had released a Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith workprint approximately six hours prior to the movie's theatrical release. This attracted the attention of the MPAA, which monitors BitTorrent sites. The MPAA began collecting information and pressuring the FBI to take some form of action.

The latest achievement of Operation D-Elite – eight convictions so far, including that of Daniel Dove, a high-ranking administrator of the EliteTorrents Internet piracy site.

Operation FastLink battles copyright infringers and violators of the NET ACT.

Operation FastLink is a coordinated effort involving four separate but simultaneous undercover investigations by the FBI, the FBI Cyber Division, the US Department of Justice, the Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Criminal Division, and Interpol. The goal: to fight organized piracy groups behind the illegal distribution of copyrighted movies, software, games and music on the Internet. FastLink specifically targets violators of the NET ACT, which refers to infringements on copyrights for financial gain, the illegal distribution of music within a six-month period, and the distribution of any pre-released content. A major component of the effort is reportedly Operation Higher Education, participated in by twelve nations.

To date, Operation FastLink has resulted in 56 convictions (including 15 criminal convictions of the members of the Internet music piracy group Apocalypse Production Crew), more than 200 search warrants executed in 15 countries, confiscation of hundreds of computers and illegal online distribution hubs, and removal of more than 100 million dollars worth of illegally-copied copyrighted software, games, movies and music from illicit distribution channels.

Operation Cisco Raider investigates the selling of counterfeit computer chips to the US military.

Operation Cisco Raider is a two-year enforcement initiative involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Over the last two years, the FBI’s portion of Operation Cisco Raider has involved 15 investigations across nine FBI field offices and the execution of 39 search warrants, identified approximately 3,500 counterfeit network components with an estimated retail value of over $3.5 million, and led to a total of ten convictions and $1.7 million in restitution.

The FBI suspects that the US military may have been using counterfeit computer chips in its systems, leaving it vulnerable to security breaches, information leaks, or worse. The components included pirated versions of Cisco Systems, Inc. routers, switches, interface converters, and wide area network interface cards.

While copyright infringers, organized piracy groups, and other IP violators continue their illegal trade, it's good to know that law enforcement has the will and the muscle to stop many of them and, hopefully soon, to stop them all completely.