Raids Recover 56.8 Million Baht worth of Unlicensed Software in First Quarter
• In first quarter of 2010, police raid manufacturers, distributors, designers, architects, game developers, construction companies.
• Automotive parts supplier nabbed with 13.1 million baht of unlicensed software in the biggest raid of the quarter.
BANGKOK (May 10, 2010) – Thai police officers tallied a strong first quarter in enforcement of software intellectual property rights at businesses in Thailand with raids netting 56.8 million baht worth of unlicensed software.
Carrying search warrants based on evidence collected through investigations, anonymous tips and legal complaints from copyright holders, police officers from the Economic Crime Division (ECD) caught businesses in at least eight provinces in the process of using unlicensed, pirated software during the course of the workday.
The most significant software piracy raid of the quarter took place during the latter half of March when police entered the premises of a manufacturing company in Samut Prakan. The company manufactures mirrors, lamps and other parts for a global automaker. Reports indicate that the auto parts being made at the plant were genuine. The total value of the unlicensed software discovered at the plant was 13.1 million baht.
The pace of police raids to protect software intellectual property rights in the first quarter of 2010 was on pace with the two previous years. In 2009 police raids netted 43 million baht of unlicensed software; in 2008 police raids netted 56 million baht of unlicensed software.
The rate of raids has remained consistently strong in each of the last three years, with the only difference being that the value of unlicensed software found at companies can vary depending on the size and type of business being raided.
Private enterprise is the primary target for software piracy raids. Police state that claims about software piracy raids at schools or other public organizations are completely inaccurate.
“The results of the first quarter demonstrate once again that companies that use unlicensed software, which is a violation of the Thai Copyright Act, are at risk of unannounced police raids,” said Varunee Ratchatapattanakul, a consultant with the Business Software Alliance (BSA). “All companies in Thailand must adhere to the Thai Copyright Act. Companies of all sizes, in a wide variety of industries and a wide variety of locations in Thailand are at risk if they use unlicensed software.”
Among the types of companies raided for software piracy in the first quarter of 2010 were manufacturers with global client bases, design and building companies, numerous automotive parts and accessories manufacturers, a game developer, interior design companies, architects, trade show exhibit makers and a number of companies involved in animation and graphics.
Those who report the use of unlicensed software by calling 02-714-1010 or by reporting it on line are eligible to receive an award of up to 250,000 Thai Baht. The identity of the caller is protected. More information is available online at
www.stop.in.th.
About Business Software Alliance
The Business Software Alliance (
www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Agilent Technologies, Altium, Apple, Aquafold, ARM, Arphic Technology, Autodesk, Autoform, AVEVA, Bentley Systems, CNC/Mastercam, Corel, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation, Embarcadero, Frontline PCB Solutions - An Orbotech Valor Company, Microsoft, Minitab, NedGraphics, Parametric Technology Corporation, Progress, Quest Software, Scalable Software, Siemens, Sybase, Symantec, Tekla, Thai Software Enterprise and The MathWorks.
