Protecting Intellectual Property Rights

Our mission is simple: to protect intellectual property rights with direct action.

TRAP (Trademark and Rightsholders Against Piracy) is a worldwide collective of rights holders and publishers working with the biggest names in music, film, TV, art and sport.
Through lobbying and direct action, TRAP protects the public from purchasing counterfeit products whilst enabling artists, actors, athletes and musicians to provide their fans with official merchandise.

Taking Direct Action

Latest News

Successfully concluding a long running investigation by TRAP partners Surelock, concerning the sale and manufacture of counterfeit music artists T-shirts and Tote bags destined for sale in Camden. A substantial screen print factory was raided in Rugby. 1000’s of counterfeit products of multiple music artists alongside printing screens and equipment were seized. The raid was…

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Peter Clanford of Weston-super-Mare pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit music and football t‑shirts through several different online platforms and was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £8,767 in prosecution costs. TRAP partners Surelock Limited identified hundreds of counterfeit t-shirts being sold on eBay. Further checks by the…

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On Thursday 21 August 2025 together with a team from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) raided eBay “quality vendor” screen printer / manufacturing facility in Manchester Investigations started in 2023 where we made a covert visit and recorded them manufacturing, despite official warnings from Manchester Trading Standards they continued trading on eBay. Search…

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On Wednesday 6 August 2025 together with a team from Brent Trading Standards; TRAP partners Surelock raided a large screen print factory / warehouse in Brent Cross NW London. This was a prolific supplier to many retail outlets all over UK especially Camden. Thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit T-shirts and transfers, computers and sophisticated…

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On Monday 28 July 2025 TRAP representatives Surelock alongside Camden Trading Standards and assisted by a very pro-active Police team raided a retail store on Camden High Street, where hundreds of counterfeit music T-shirts were seized. These shirts were worth thousands of pounds with multiple artists affected. This raid lead to the discovery of the…

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After a great deal of work, TRAP’s partner Surelock have established an ongoing relationship with the local authority covering Camden. This partnership will involve a greater level of cooperation in order to tackle the persistent issue of the sale of counterfeit goods in the borough. Music merchandise suffers alongside many designer brands and sports teams.…

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