About the Center

Safeguarding America's Health and Safety. Protecting U.S. citizens, combatting IP theft.

Predatory and illegal intellectual property trade practices affect every aspect of our lives ranging from the economy to health and safety. The IPR Center is the U.S. government’s frontline response to stop global IP theft and enforce international trade laws. 

The IPR Center strives to share critical information and raise awareness to the dangers of IP theft, fraud, cyber intrusions, and trade violations by coordinating with 25 key federal and international government agencies, as well as private sector partners to combat IP theft around the world. 

Through these partnerships the IPR Center can disrupt illegal activities, investigate bad actors and disseminate necessary information to protect the U.S. 

  • Health & Safety 
    Counterfeit goods are often substandard products that pose health and safety risks to consumers.
  • Economy
    IP theft erodes returns on innovation, causes job losses and deteriorates legitimate tax revenue bases.
  • National Security
    When counterfeit products infiltrate authorized supply chains it directly affects our military’s readiness. 

James R. Mancuso - Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination CenterDirector, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

James ‘Jim’ Mancuso is currently the Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. In this position, he manages the federal government’s response to combat global intellectual property theft, protect national security, and ensure public health and safety. As a decorated federal law enforcement agent and civil servant, Mr. Mancuso has served and protected communities around the world for more than 27 years. He is a senior executive service member, spearheading transformational investigative efforts within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

View Profile


Brandon Lord - Deputy Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Deputy Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center 

Mr. Lord serves as the Executive Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trade Policy and Programs directorate and is responsible for policy, enforcement priorities, and stakeholder outreach related to CBP’s Priority Trade Issues. He also oversees CBP’s 21st Century Customs Framework initiative and two ongoing pilots the Section 321 Data Pilot and the Entry Type 86 test that cover de minimis/e-Commerce shipments. Mr. Lord also directs teams responsible for the implementation, enforcement, and stakeholder communications related to Section 201, 232, and 301 trade remedies.

View Profile


Deputy Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Jeremy Capello

Deputy Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Supervisory Special Agent Jeremy Capello is the Unit Chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Economic Crimes Unit, which encompasses all Intellectual Property Rights matters. Mr. Capello also serves as the FBI’s Deputy Director at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, where the FBI’s IPR unit is located. He provides strategic direction and oversight for the FBI’s IPR program which is composed of theft of trade secrets, trademark and copyright infringement, and counterfeit goods impacting health and safety.

View Profile


Michael Ball

Michael Ball

Deputy Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Michael Ball is the Deputy Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, where he shares in the responsibility for directing the federal government’s response to combat global intellectual property theft, intellectual properties rights violations, and public health and safety concerns. He has also served as the division chief for the intellectual property unit.

View Profile