Washington ( CNN ) -- In an effort to confront the growing problem of global counterfeiting of U.S. consumer goods , the government Tuesday launched a campaign designed to grab the public 's attention . A series of catchy and dramatic TV and radio public service announcements and print ads were unveiled at a White House event headed by Attorney General Eric Holder and several other administration officials . The officials stressed the negative impact the sale of tons of counterfeit goods is having on the U.S. economy . The majority of the `` knockoff '' products originate in China , officials said . The low prices available from the online crime groups are hard for consumers to resist . `` The lure of the bargain overcomes the moral compass every time , '' said Ann Harkins , president and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council . Officials said research shows the American public believes intellectual property theft is a harmless , victimless practice . `` Make no mistake , IP crimes are anything but victimless , '' Holder said . `` ... these crimes can destroy jobs , suppress innovation , and jeopardize the health and safety of consumers . '' Officials emphasized the personal danger from buying cheaper fake medicines and pills online . They also focused on the cost to artists , musicians , and others who are victims of knockoff DVDs and free downloads . That message was effectively driven home by a single performer . In a dramatic new PSA unveiled Tuesday , a young female street musician sings and plays her guitar , and watches dumbfounded as members of her audience start taking money rather than putting it in her open guitar case . The announcer then declares `` illegal downloads are not victimless crimes . '' The singer-songwriter Addie Braunley was on hand for the event .
Series of catchy ads and PSAs focus on victims of intellectual property crimes . The campaign has been so successful that the U.S. Copyright Office is now considering whether to make it a federal crime for companies like Google or Facebook to knowingly allow their users to share copyrighted material without permission. Crimes affect jobs , innovation and consumer safety , attorney general says .