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Thursday, March 25, 2004
NBI raids Cyber City for 'copyright violation'
By Minerva Zamora-Arceo
CLARK ECOZONE -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Wednesday swooped down on one of the largest and fastest-growing IT locators in Clark, Cyber City Teleservices Inc. and confiscated articles or paraphernalia allegedly used in the illegal reproduction of Adobe Systems softwares.
In two separate search warrants for copyright infringement issued by Judge Pedro Sunga Jr. of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 42, the NBI's Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) was ordered to "immediately search" Cyber City's premises and "seize and take possession" of the following articles:
1. Complete or partially complete unauthorized reproduction or copies of Adobe software contained in floppy disks or CD-ROM format bearing the Microsoft copyrights owned by Adobe Systems Inc.;
2. Complete and partially complete unauthorized reproductions or copies of Adobe Instruction Manuals and/or literature bearing the Adobe copyright owned by Adobe Systems Inc.;
3. Computer hardware including central processing units (CPUs), hardisks, CD-ROMs, drives, keyboards, monitors, screens and diskettes or other equipment or paraphernalia containing unauthorized reproduction of Microsoft software used or intended to be used in the illegal and unauthorized copying and reproduction of Adobe software and their manuals; and
4. Sundry items such as labels, boxes, prints, packages, wrappers, receptacles, advertisements and other paraphernalia bearing unauthorized reproduction of trademarks and copyrights of Adobe Corp.
"You are hereby commanded to make an immediate search of the premises in the above-described establishment and forthwith seize and take possession of the above-mentioned articles to be dealt with as the law directs," Sunga said.
He added that search warrants could be served day or night and should be returned upon accomplishment but not beyond 10 days from issuance.
Sunga ordered the search in eight buildings of Cyber City, including its "Call Center" or Building 2520 along Osmeņa Rd. inside Clark.
The search warrants were issued against Cyber City for its alleged violation of Sec. 177 in relation to Sec 217 of RA 8293, which provides protection to intellectual property rights, and were based on a complaint filed by Adobe Systems Inc.
Irked management
Wednesday's NBI raid obviously earned the Cyber City management's ire as it refused to give statement to the media.
Sun.Star Pampanga tried but failed to interview Jonathan Rosenberg, chief executive officer of Cyber City, who was there during the raid.
Rosenberg said he would face the media next week when he is ready to provide detailed answers to what has happened inside Cyber City.
Several Cyber City officers also refused to give statements, including the firm's Chief Operations Officer Alma Liong and General Services Administrator Joseph Malonga.
One of the Cyber City staff in Building 2520 even attempted to confiscate cameras of journalists covering the raid.
Meanwhile, Cyber City employees decried the manner the raid was conducted and assailed NBI-IPRD agents for being allegedly "impolite and discourteous."
"Bigla na lang silang pumasok...ni hindi nagpakilala at pagkatapos ay pinagsisigawan kami at sinabing 'Tayo! Tayo! Tayo!' Nung nagreklamo kami sa paraan ng pagpapaalis nila, sinabihan pa kami na damputin daw dahil makulit kami. Tama ba yun? Para kaming kriminal na sinasabihan nila. Wala naman kaming problema sa pagco-conduct ng search nila pero dapat naman ay ayusin nila ang pagsasagawa nito at magpakilala sila ng maayos," some of the staff said.
Cyber City has hired thousands of employees from around Pampanga since it started its teleservices operations in Clark in the past years. It caters to clients abroad and is known to be the fastest growing IT locator inside Clark ecozone.
(March 25, 2004 issue)
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