/ Bridepi Seizes More Than 37,000 Counterfeit Books in Santiago
June 23, 2026Alessandri Attorneys at Law led the legal strategy that enabled the Chilean Investigative Police to launch an operation in downtown Santiago, which culminated in the seizure of more than 37,000 counterfeit books.
The operation stemmed from a complaint filed by publishing houses affiliated with the Corporación del Libro y la Lectura, with legal support from Alessandri, following the discovery of the unauthorized reproduction and sale of copyrighted works. The material in question constituted a violation of Law No. 17,336 on Intellectual Property and Law No. 19,039 on Industrial Property, with a direct impact on authors, publishers, and other stakeholders in the publishing ecosystem.
Based on this complaint, the Intellectual Property Crimes Investigation Brigade (BRIDEPI) of the Chilean Investigative Police carried out a seizure operation at three locations in the San Diego Shopping Mall, in the city of Santiago, resulting in the confiscation of more than 37,000 counterfeit books, valued at approximately $1.400 million.
The operation concluded with the arrest of two individuals for violating the Intellectual Property Law. Furthermore, the authorities are evaluating the appropriate legal actions to effectively protect the infringed rights and secure full compensation for the damage caused.
“This operation underscores the importance of effective criminal prosecution against piracy in the publishing sector—an illegal activity that infringes on copyrights and causes significant economic harm. At Alessandri, we will continue to collaborate with the authorities to protect our clients’ intellectual property assets,” said Hernán Torres, senior associate at Alessandri.
