More than 20 enterprises caught using unlicensed software in business operations

These raids are part of police efforts for Thailand to lead Asia Pacific in the reduction of software piracy.

 

An animation company that creates a popular televised children’s program was found using unlicensed design software on 30 PCs.

 

A producer of Jasmine rice was caught by police using unlicensed design software within the company’s engineering department on 36 PCs. This firm claimed revenue of nearly Bt7 billion in 2010.

 

A manufacturing company based in the Bangpoo Industrial Estate was raided for using unlicensed software despite earlier warnings from police officials that Industrial Estates along the eastern seaboard were under close observation following numerous reports of software piracy.

 

A manufacturer of plastic packaging products was found using a variety of pirated software products on 69 PCs. In its most recent financial disclosures, the company reported revenue of Bt531 million.

 

“If there is a common thread through all of the companies raided it may be that the companies do not have in place a sufficient process for managing their software assets,” said Police Colonel Chainarong Charoenchainao, Deputy Commander and spokesman of the ECD.

 

Many of the companies currently under investigation for software piracy report significant annual revenue, indicating that piracy may be a matter of lax internal enforcement of software copyrights versus the inability to afford software licenses.

 

By using only genuine software and following copyrights laws, companies are immunizing themselves against legal risks and complaints from software copyright owners as well as malware and other system security risks.

 

“The cost of software legalization is worth the peace of mind,” Pol. Col. Chainarong said. “It’s also about integrity. I believe every Thai business can succeed without having to rely on stolen software.”

 

Thailand aims to overtake Hong Kong with the fastest drop in software piracy reduction in Asia Pacific. For four consecutive years now, the country has been making continued progress towards lowering software piracy rate from 80% in 2006 to 73% in 2010 - pointing towards greater use of genuine software in accordance with copyrights laws among corporate entities.

 

Last year, more than half a billion baht worth of illegal software was seized in Thailand from enterprises lacking licenses. Under the Copyright Act B.E. 2537, infringement of a copyrighted computer program carries punishment of imprisonment and/or a fine.

 

Those who report the use of unlicensed software by calling 02-714-1010 or by reporting it online are eligible to receive an award of up to Bt250,000. The identity of the caller is protected.  More information is available online at www.stop.in.th.