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National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

Due to the lapse in federal funding, this website will not be actively managed. This website was last updated on September 30, 2025, and will not be updated until after funding is enacted. As such, information on this website may not be up to date. Transactions submitted via this website might not be processed and we will not be able to respond to inquiries until after appropriations are enacted.

IPU Operation Team Player

The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) initiated Operation Team Player in June 2013 to target the sale and trafficking of counterfeit sports merchandise, apparel and tickets. Because this is a multi-million dollar criminal industry, the trafficking of these items is extremely lucrative and becomes more profitable in markets involving successful and popular teams. The culmination of a sports season involving playoffs and championship games are events that stimulate the sale of counterfeit items.

Download Operation Team Player Fact Sheet JAN 2019.pdf — 339 KB