As soccer (football for the rest of the world) fans gather in South Africa and around their TV sets for the 2010 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup starting today, more than just the hearts of nations and the pride of the teams are on the line. Corporate sponsors have invested three years and millions of dollars in preparation for what is the biggest international sporting event outside the Olympics. As such, the counterfeiting of World Cup merchandise—like hats, jerseys, souvenirs, etc—and the illegal online streaming (when viewers watch the match via the internet) of the tournament threaten the foundations of this great event. Read more….