Sunday, November 25, 2007 Microsoft software 'pirate' convicted
A VIOLATOR of Republic Act 8293 or Intellectual Property Code was found guilty in a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) and has been sentenced to imprisonment of two years and a fine of P50,000 or US$1,151.
Paquito Cantemprate, proprietor of Benpaq Enterprises, was convicted of violating RA 8293 after a surprise raid by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was found to have 140 high quality counterfeit Microsoft Windows 98.
Judge Antonio M. Eugenio of the RTC Branch 24 of Manila said, the raid was conducted after Microsoft channel partners told NBI of the violations.
Benpaq Enterprises is located at Crystal Jade, H. Lopez Blvd Tondo, Manila, has been re-selling Microsoft Windows 98 products.
"We would like to acknowledge and thank the Philippine justice courts for penalizing those who violate and disrespect intellectual property. We are also grateful to the NBI for their continued and unwavering efforts to inhibit the practice of selling pirated software," said Rebecca Ho of Microsoft's Law and Corporate Affairs.
Microsoft is committed to protecting the intellectual property (IP) of the Filipino software industry. The rise of software piracy in the Philippines has been causing significant losses in revenues for the local software economy.
Benpaq Enterprises duplicated software and passed these on as original products.
Ho added that "this serves as a warning for Filipino businesses and organizations selling and using pirated software.
Consumers also face risks whenever they use pirated software because the complete computing experience is compromised.
