Is intellectual property a criminal case?

While individuals or companies can bring civil remedies to address violations of their intellectual property rights, criminal sanctions are often justified to ensure sufficient punishment and deterrence of illegal activity. More generally speaking, if you traffic (manufacture, sell, give away, or otherwise offer) tools to help other people circumvent access or copy controls, and you do so deliberately and for the purpose of obtaining a commercial advantage or a private economic benefit, you may also be criminally responsible. The civil statute of limitations is three years, but there is a five-year statute of limitations for a federal prosecutor to initiate criminal action against an offender. Companies or individuals who can identify those who stole their intellectual property can take them to court and, in some cases, serious penalties can be imposed on criminals.