Campaign Against Software Piracy Launched
The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a non-profit anti-piracy organization funded by the software industry, has launched a nationwide campaign against software piracy by conducting a raid in collaboration with the police.
Police recently raided two Singaporean companies operating on Batam Island with the help of the BSA, whose members include the world's largest software makers.
BSA director for the Asia Pacific region, Jeffrey J Hardee, said Thursday (24/5/07) that during the May 8 raid, two shipping companies were found to have installed unlicensed Autodesk, Microsoft and Symantec software worth $500,000 on 145 personal computers.
"This proves that not only small firms and poor people use counterfeit software, but also multinational companies," Hardee was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.
The 2002 Copyright Law states that anyone who, without permission, deliberately reproduces a computer program for commercial purposes can be jailed for a maximum of five years and/or fined a maximum of Rp500 million ($51,500).
As part of the anti-software piracy campaign, the BSA inked a partnership agreement earlier this month with the East Java Police. Under the agreement, signed on May 3, the BSA will provide the necessary information to help police investigations, and provide witnesses in copyright-violation cases when needed.
"The East Java police are moving ahead in the fight against piracy," said Hardee. "Police in other regions have signaled their interest in working with us as well. I believe this is a good sign for Indonesia, which is moving in the right direction."
Police recently raided two Singaporean companies operating on Batam Island with the help of the BSA, whose members include the world's largest software makers.
BSA director for the Asia Pacific region, Jeffrey J Hardee, said Thursday (24/5/07) that during the May 8 raid, two shipping companies were found to have installed unlicensed Autodesk, Microsoft and Symantec software worth $500,000 on 145 personal computers.
"This proves that not only small firms and poor people use counterfeit software, but also multinational companies," Hardee was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.
The 2002 Copyright Law states that anyone who, without permission, deliberately reproduces a computer program for commercial purposes can be jailed for a maximum of five years and/or fined a maximum of Rp500 million ($51,500).
As part of the anti-software piracy campaign, the BSA inked a partnership agreement earlier this month with the East Java Police. Under the agreement, signed on May 3, the BSA will provide the necessary information to help police investigations, and provide witnesses in copyright-violation cases when needed.
"The East Java police are moving ahead in the fight against piracy," said Hardee. "Police in other regions have signaled their interest in working with us as well. I believe this is a good sign for Indonesia, which is moving in the right direction."