Thai seafood company settles with US state in pirated software case
A Thai seafood exporter has agreed to pay the US state of Massachusetts 10,000 dollars in a case brought against it for using unlicensed software in its factory.
Narong Seafood Company has become the first company in Asia to settle a free trade case under the US' Unfair Competition Act (UCA),company officials and police said Monday.
"This legal movement in the US will help to reduce software piracy further," said police deputy commander Chainarong Charoenchainao of the EconomicCrimes Division.
"It's an opportunity for us to stand out," said Arthon Piboonthanapatana, assistant managing director of Narong Seafood.
"This was important for the continued access to the US market." Massachusetts is one of 39 states that have enacted UCA legislation designed to protect US importers against foreign companies that use pirated software, giving them an unfair trade advantage.
The state's attorney general's office contacted Narong Seafood several months ago to notify the company of allegations of pirated software use.
"The 10,000-dollar settlement was a lot of money for us, but we had to spend even more on buying legitimate software," Arthon said.
Wiramrudee Mokkhavesa, an attorney for Tilleke and Gibbons International, said there were several other cases pending against Thai companies for violation of the UCA.
"This is the first case of a UCA settlement in Asia, and perhaps in the world," Wiramrudee said.//DPA
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