Thursday, December 06, 2007 PAPT warns against use of pirated software
THE Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team, a government-led initiative composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Optical Media Board (OMB) and the PNP, declared in a press briefing that the intensive enforcement actions against all forms of businesses involved in the use and distribution of pirated and unlicensed software will continue unabated in the coming weeks.
Since the start of November, PAPT has already conducted 12 successful enforcement operations against different forms of business establishments including corporations, Internet cafes and stores using and selling pirated and unlicensed copies of business software. These enforcement operations have resulted in the seizure of 206 computers loaded with unlicensed copies of software, 22 pirated installers and 15 sacks of pirated CDs of software amounting to P14.3 million.
“The PAPT is now pursuing an all-out war against all forms of software piracy.
We urge all businesses to be more conscientious in their use of software to spare them from the adverse consequences of being caught of committing the illegal act of software piracy,” said Elfren Meneses Jr., head of the NBI’s Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD).
During the past weeks, the PAPT operatives have visited key cities in Metro Manila and have distributed flyers containing information on the country’s laws regarding intellectual property rights.
Spot checks
“The team has conducted spot-checks in several offices in Makati City, call centers in Mandaluyong City, computer stores in Quezon City and schools in Las Piñas City.
We want to send a clear message that we are taking severe measures against the proliferation of software piracy and no one is spared from this campaign,” declared Rosendo Meneses, executive director of the Optical Media Board.
To help businesses understand the legal implications of software piracy, the PAPT has sent out letters to 20,000 corporations nationwide reminding them to ensure that they are in compliance with the country’s IPR laws so as not to risk suffering the legal consequences of being found violating these laws.
The PAPT maintains an MOU with the Business Software Alliance and the Intellectual Property Coalition in its campaign to curb software piracy in the Philippines.
Software piracy is a violation of the Intellectual Property (IP) Code of the Philippines. This is punishable by up to nine years imprisonment and a fine of up to P1.5 million. (PR)
