Three computer retailers caught selling pirated software

Operators of three computer retailers are facing criminal charges after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) caught them selling pirated software worth P375,000, NBI-led Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) said Wednesday.

 

Microstation Computer Center Inc., Starapple Corporation and PC Chain Superstores in Quezon City and Muntinlupa City were caught red-handed selling unlicensed software in branded PCs in a recent raid by PAPT.

 

Owners, sales personnel and technicians of the computer stores are facing criminal charges and are at risk of having a hold departure order, issued against them.

 

The establishments are also in danger of having their business permit revoked and may also face immediate tax investigation.

 

“Retail stores must refrain from loading the computers they sell with pirated software... exposing its consumers to serious malware and virus attacks which can lead to data theft and losses," Dante Jacinto, chief of NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division, noted in the statement.

 

"Just because the computers being bought are well-known brands is no assurance that they are loaded with original software,” he added.

 

A study by the Microsoft Forensics team showed units of multinational brands Acer, Lenovo, and HP were susceptible to being loaded with pirated software.

 

“Software piracy is not only a crime; it is also a risky business proposition," Raul Cortez, Legal and Corporate Affairs director of Microsoft Philippines, was quoted as saying in the statement. – Danessa Rivera/VS, GMA News