Eighty thousand pirated CD-ROMS have been seized in the largest ever raid of night markets in Singapore.
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today voiced strong support for tough enforcement action taken by Singapore's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the wake of island-wide police action that saw the seizure of pirated CD-ROMs worth an estimated S$1.2 million.
The raids, which were the largest ever mounted by the CID against night markets, targetted 15 retail stores and four vans operating at housing estates.
Police seized an estimated 80,000 CD-ROMs containing computer software, games software, and audio recordings.
"The authorities clearly share the BSA's view that software piracy and disregard for intellectual property is unacceptable in a country that is embracing the New Economy, which knowledge - or intellectual property - is perhaps the most valuable commodity," said Huey Tan, vice president of BSA Singapore.
The BSA is now working with the police to identify the infringing articles.
The police raids also saw the arrest of 47 suspects. Any person found guilty of selling or distributing infringing articles in which copyright subsists, is liable to face fines, imprisonment or both.
"These are hefty penalties, and software pirates should think twice before they break the law," said Tan.
