NBI raids local company using pirated software

Stepping up their efforts against software piracy, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation raided a local company for reproducing and using pirated software within their premises.

The company was identified as Steel Systems Engineering Philippines (SSEP) located at Rima Building, 161 Lake View Drive corner Kawilihan Street, Pasig Boulevard, Bagong Ilog, Pasig AutoCAD version 14 and 2000 software.

The raid was initiated by Autodesk, Inc., the developer of AutoCAD release 14 and AutoCAD 2000, through their local counsel Bengzon & Negre law office. AutoCAD is the leading software used by many engineering, architectural, design and construction firms. It was discovered that SSEP was using the software as part of their ongoing technical and design consultancy projects for its US-based clients.

The NBI obtained search warrants issued by Judge Alfredo C. Flores of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for copyright infringement. Autodesk’s investigators, 1P2 Manila Associates, conducted a joint surveillance and investigation against SSEP together with the NBI’s Intellectual Property Rights Division.

An NBI agent said that the serial numbers of the software were all identical and that they also had certifications to the effect that SSEP was not authorized to possess multiple licenses of the AutoCAD software. He noted that management could not even produce a single license for any of the software.

Autodesk Inc. has encouraged engineering, architectural, design, manufacturing and construction industry associations in the Philippines to advise their members to legalize Autodesk software use within their organization. Autodesk has expressed willingness to meet these associations to talk on legalizing their members’ use of software.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), an umbrella organization of leading software developers recently launched their assistance in software audit program in order that companies may avoid any legal complications in their business.