- Email: [email protected]
The far East's fight against piracy continues
PIRACY/COPYRIGHT
NEWS
The Far East's fight against piracy continues A
scathing US Trade Representative report on theft of intellectual property rights has provoked anger in some Asian capitals, reports The Journal of Commerce. Thailand has promised a tougher line on pirates and the Philippines pledged greater vigilance, even as Hong Kong said that it already has a strong anti-piracy regime in operation. The Thai Prime Minster promised tough action against counterfeiters after the USTR's National Trade Estimates Report accused his nation of illegal copying of US software worth $290 million during 1996. The country's Commerce Ministry is urging the premier to create a special anti-piracy task force, fearing US and European trade relations. Officials are concerned that the US Government will use the USTR assessment to justify a harder stance in general trade negotiations, especially the question of privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences. In Thailand, counterfeiters face jail sentences of up to four
years and fines of $32 000, but to date there have been no prison sentences served for piracy and the fines are said to be too low. In Hong Kong, officials rejected the r e p o r t ' s claims, "The H o n g Kong Government remains totally committed and determined to do our utmost. We will continue to work with copyright owners from the United States and other countries and seek their support, such as testifying in Hong Kong courts of law." T h e P h i l i p p i n e G o v e r n m e n t is intensifying its campaign to protect intellectual property rights. Raids on f i v e r e t a i l e r s in C e b u n e t t e d 28 computers suspected of containing illegally loaded software and counterfeit CD-ROM 'installers'. The BSA and NBI staged raids in Manila last year resulting in $40 000 in settlements and the confiscation of large quantities of illegal software.
"illegal copying of US software worth $290 million during 1996"
Software theft campaign reaches first anniversary on the first anniversary of the campaign C ommenting in the UK to reduce software theft, Yvonne McLean, Chair of the Business Software Alliance, said, "It has really been an excellent year for the Business Software Alliance in the UK. We have d e v e l o p e d a very comprehensive campaign to educate users and the channel on the need to comply with the law and we are now the software industry's front-line in its mission to deter the illegal use of software products throughout Europe. The culmination of this year has been the opening of a European headquarters, in London, and the appointment of both a Managing Director and a Director for Marketing which are further demonstrations of B SA' s commitment to significantly reducing software piracy in Europe and promoting a coherent global presence." Over the previous nine months since the line was set up, 800 calls were made to the BSA Hotline, resulting in over 200 leads on software theft.
Computer Fraud & Security May 1997 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Software pirate caught using latest computer technology Against Software Theft (FAST) T heandFederation Mid Glamorgan Trading Standards have used the latest computer forensic technology to expose software pirate Raymond Jenkins, owner of Computers Direct Ltd. The defendant was sentenced to three months imprisonment for selling PCs pre-loaded will illegal software. In an attempt to remove evidence during the raid, Jenkins formatted his hard disk, however, using sophisticated data imaging technology, a complete copy of the hard drive was recovered and used to retrieve Jenkins' customer database. FAST and the police were then able to track down Jenkins' customers and carry out further investigations. It was discovered, during investigations, that Jenkins had been selling PCs from as little as £285 including unlicensed software worth as much as £6000.
NEWS
The Far East's fight against piracy continues A
scathing US Trade Representative report on theft of intellectual property rights has provoked anger in some Asian capitals, reports The Journal of Commerce. Thailand has promised a tougher line on pirates and the Philippines pledged greater vigilance, even as Hong Kong said that it already has a strong anti-piracy regime in operation. The Thai Prime Minster promised tough action against counterfeiters after the USTR's National Trade Estimates Report accused his nation of illegal copying of US software worth $290 million during 1996. The country's Commerce Ministry is urging the premier to create a special anti-piracy task force, fearing US and European trade relations. Officials are concerned that the US Government will use the USTR assessment to justify a harder stance in general trade negotiations, especially the question of privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences. In Thailand, counterfeiters face jail sentences of up to four
years and fines of $32 000, but to date there have been no prison sentences served for piracy and the fines are said to be too low. In Hong Kong, officials rejected the r e p o r t ' s claims, "The H o n g Kong Government remains totally committed and determined to do our utmost. We will continue to work with copyright owners from the United States and other countries and seek their support, such as testifying in Hong Kong courts of law." T h e P h i l i p p i n e G o v e r n m e n t is intensifying its campaign to protect intellectual property rights. Raids on f i v e r e t a i l e r s in C e b u n e t t e d 28 computers suspected of containing illegally loaded software and counterfeit CD-ROM 'installers'. The BSA and NBI staged raids in Manila last year resulting in $40 000 in settlements and the confiscation of large quantities of illegal software.
"illegal copying of US software worth $290 million during 1996"
Software theft campaign reaches first anniversary on the first anniversary of the campaign C ommenting in the UK to reduce software theft, Yvonne McLean, Chair of the Business Software Alliance, said, "It has really been an excellent year for the Business Software Alliance in the UK. We have d e v e l o p e d a very comprehensive campaign to educate users and the channel on the need to comply with the law and we are now the software industry's front-line in its mission to deter the illegal use of software products throughout Europe. The culmination of this year has been the opening of a European headquarters, in London, and the appointment of both a Managing Director and a Director for Marketing which are further demonstrations of B SA' s commitment to significantly reducing software piracy in Europe and promoting a coherent global presence." Over the previous nine months since the line was set up, 800 calls were made to the BSA Hotline, resulting in over 200 leads on software theft.
Computer Fraud & Security May 1997 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Software pirate caught using latest computer technology Against Software Theft (FAST) T heandFederation Mid Glamorgan Trading Standards have used the latest computer forensic technology to expose software pirate Raymond Jenkins, owner of Computers Direct Ltd. The defendant was sentenced to three months imprisonment for selling PCs pre-loaded will illegal software. In an attempt to remove evidence during the raid, Jenkins formatted his hard disk, however, using sophisticated data imaging technology, a complete copy of the hard drive was recovered and used to retrieve Jenkins' customer database. FAST and the police were then able to track down Jenkins' customers and carry out further investigations. It was discovered, during investigations, that Jenkins had been selling PCs from as little as £285 including unlicensed software worth as much as £6000.