The Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) recently took its anti-piracy drive in the Visayas region and found unlicensed software being used in three businesses in Cebu.
The PAPT identified the three firms who were found using illegal software as Prince Warehouse Club, Virginia Foods, and Innoland Development Corporation.
The PAPT, led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Optical Media Board (OMB), also seized pirated software from three retail malls in the province.
A cache of bootlegged software was obtained from 138 Mall, Elizabeth Mall, and Collonade Mall, according to the PAPT.
The crackdown yielded 21 sacks of assorted pirated CDs, including various versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office, Xbox games, and other Windows applications.
Assorted installers containing infringing software belonging to Adobe, Cyber Link, Autocad, among others, were seized from seven retailers during the anti-piracy campaign in the malls.
Software piracy is a violation of the copyright provisions of the IP code of the Philippines (RA 8293) and Optical Media Act (RA 9239) and carries with it penalties of up to nine years of imprisonment, a fine of up to P1.5 million, or both.
In May 2013, PAPT members IPOPHL and OMB conducted inspections in different businesses in South Metro Area (Laguna and Batangas) and now extended their visits to the Visayas region.
