Hong Kong Customs cracked two corporate piracy cases in an operation codenamed "Counterpoint" on September 16 and 17.
Customs officers mounted the operation in response to reports about suspected use of pirated software by some companies.
Following investigations, Customs officers raided a computer equipment trading company in Tai Kok Tsui on September 16 and found 22 computers installed with infringing software including operation system, office application and design software. The seized computers are worth about $70,000 while the retail value of the genuine copies of the software concerned is about $130,000. Two men, who are managers of the company, aged 39 and 50, were arrested. They were released on bail pending investigations.
In another raid on an aluminum engineering company in Chai Wan on September 17, Customs officers also found 53 computers installed with infringing software mainly of office application. The seized computers are worth about $170,000 and the market value of the genuine copies of the software concerned is about $200,000. A 33-year-old man who is the manager of the company was arrested and released on bail pending investigations.
Speaking today (September 19) at a press conference on the operation details, Acting Senior Superintendent of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Thomas Lin, said Customs had noticed that some large business organisations were involved in a number of corporate piracy cases recently, which indicated their low awareness of using genuine computer software. Customs would closely monitor the situation and would step up enforcement action if necessary, he said.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, anyone who knowingly used pirated software in business committed a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy.
Mr Lin reminded company directors and partners that under the Copyright Ordinance, if a business organisation was found in possession of infringing copies of computer programmes, movies, TV dramas or musical recordings (including visual and sound recordings) for use in the business, its directors or partners may be subject to criminal liability.
Ends/Saturday, September 19, 2009