Operation against intellectual property and computer security crimes

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

Under the name Operation Archimedes II, the Public Ministry of Honduras carried out a national procedure against intellectual property and computer security crimes. The operation was executed in several cities and end with seizured and arrests regarding fraud, counterfeiting and violation of trademarks and patents in medicines, merchandise, food products and lottery tickets.

Other targeted crimes were plagiarism of written texts, books and novels; rental or commercialization of phonograms, videograms, computer programs and cinematographic works without authorization; and copyright or related rights for the transmission, retransmission or reproduction of broadcasts without authorization. 

The Public Ministry carried out the operation within the framework of the World Intellectual Property Day, celebrated on April 26, 2022. The procedure was also focused on establishing the importance of the Honduran Customs Administration, which transitioned to a new management structure in 2020.

The transition was part of a customs modernization reform process regarding provisions for expediting the movement, release, and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.