NBI raids computer shops for using pirated software

The Philippine Star

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) served three search warrants and confiscated 32 computer sets from two computer shops in Metro Manila for using pirated computer software on Friday.

Some 20 agents of the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), raided the Jacctags Computer Service, located at Unit 90-C and Unit 90-D Anonas Street, East Kamias, Aurora, Quezon City; and the Archisoft PC-911 Sales and Service at the second level of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) North Mall, Rizal Avenue Extension, Gracerpark, Caloocan City.

NBI agents seized 29 computers and 19 compact discs containing illegal Microsoft software programs from the two Jacctags stores while three computers were taken from PC-911 store. The total cost of the items reached P1.07 million.

The NBI would file copyright infringement and unfair competition charges against the owners of the establishments.

NBI-IPRD head agent Jose Justo Yap said the raid was in compliance with the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team‘s (PAPT) campaign against software piracy which started Sept. 16.

In 2004, software piracy in the Philippines was pegged at 71 percent. Microsoft alone has reportedly lost P3.7 billion to piracy.

The NBI agents served the search warrants issued by Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr., of the Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 24, at around noontime on Friday. The warrants were based on the complaint of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an organization dedicated to combating software piracy.

Yap said they conducted a surveillance on the subjects upon receiving a complaint from the BSA that the establishments were using pirated software. After confirming their suspicion, they immediately secured the necessary warrants.

In an earlier raid on computer shops last Nov. 24, the NBI also seized 286 computers worth P10 million from three branches of a popular chain of Internet cafes located in shopping malls in the metropolis.

Yap said the computer units of at least three branches of Excel, owned by Expressions Center for Learning (ECL), reportedly contained unauthorized reproductions or copies of unlicensed Microsoft software programs. — Evelyn Macairan