20 raided for using unlicensed software
MORE than 20 businesses were raided for using unlicensed software in the first weeks of this year, with offices operating in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Ratchaburi being the focus of police operations after evidence was collected confirming use of unlicense
The largest raid was conducted against a company in the real-estate industry, with 30 personal computers being used by staff for business operations, all loaded with suspected unlicensed software, including some made by Thai developers.
The second-largest raid was against a company with French and Hong Kong-based shareholders in Chon Buri.
The police Economic Crime Division (ECD) has vowed to keep up the pressure on businesses using unlicensed software. According to International Data Corporation, 71 per cent of software loaded on to PCs in Thailand in 2013 was unlicensed.
“We are enforcing the rule of law and protecting software developers’ copyrights,” said ECD acting commander Pol Colonel Sorraruk Choosanit.
“Use of unlicensed software is a form of theft, particularly when businesses with large incomes avoid paying for legitimate and licensed software. Thai software companies are among those hurt by software piracy.
“We need businesses to conduct thorough inspections of their software and IT, and self-regulate to ensure they are not using unlicensed products. Those companies that fail to self-regulate and comply will risk being raided.”
So far this year, businesses in the following industries have been raided: Construction, architecture, manufacturing, engineering, information technology and telecommunications, design, and electrical systems.
Last year, police raided nearly 200 businesses for use of unlicensed software and they have vowed to step up pressure this year, reasoning that a “digital economy” will require better compliance with software copyright laws.
Police has been receiving large volumes of reports about the use of unlicensed software in businesses and as soon as investigations have confirmed copyright violations, raids are conducted.
“Software and the supporting industries are an important part of the digital economy,” Sorraruk said. “We need to continue cracking down on unlicensed software to provide a good, legal environment for the innovations of the digital economy.
“Besides, we need to guard against serious cyber-security risks caused by use of unlicensed software.”
The average business caught using unlicensed software last year had annual revenues of Bt235 million, indicating that even large and wealthy businesses have continued to violate Thailand’s laws protecting software intellectual property.
The ECD encourages all business leaders to assess their software licence status to ensure legality. Police say addressing the use of unlicensed software inside businesses requires a hands-on approach by executives, just as they would take a hands-on approach to addressing other corporate risks.
