Raids In Singapore Hit Major Software Pirates

Software Publishers Association Opens Asian Anti-Piracy Campaign

January 5, 1994 (Washington, DC) -- The Software Publishers Association
(SPA) took its first action against software pirates in Asia with raids on
three operations in Singapore. The campaign against pirates in Asia is
patterned after the successful SPA anti-piracy programs in the United
States.

SPA representatives, accompanied by Singapore police officers, raided three
retail stores. Pirated software seized at the locations included business
application software, education and home software, CD-ROM applications and
games. Also seized were copyrighted manuals and other program
documentation.

The copyrighted software programs seized are published by Adobe Systems,
Central Point Software, Claris, Computer Associates, Davidson and
Associates, Fifth Generation, Maxis, Sir-Tech Software and Symantec
Corporation.

"Software piracy is so blatant in Singapore that you can walk into a retail
store and buy pirated software off the shelf. The clerks will even direct
you to the pirated copies. These raids are meant to show that we are
serious about bringing the problem under control," says Ken Wasch,
Executive Director of the Software Publishers Association. "We will
continue to pursue software pirates to the full extent of the law until
they learn that the only thing they'll earn from pirating the software of
SPA members is a fine and a jail term."

"Asian countries need stronger copyright protection if they are to continue
to grow as international development and marketing centers for computer
software. We're working with both industry and government in those
countries to promote that growth while safeguarding the interests of the
software companies we represent worldwide."

Under Singapore law, copyright infringement is both a civil wrong and
criminal offense. Remedies under a civil suit would include an injunction,
damages including exemplary damages, discovery and legal costs.

Maximum criminal penalties for persons convicted of copyright infringement
is a $100,000 (Singapore Dollars) fine and/or five years' imprisonment.
Industry estimates have shown that SPA member companies lose millions of
dollars each year to software piracy in Singapore alone.

SPA representatives throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim are actively
investigating software piracy operations, and further actions in other
countries are expected in the coming year.

The SPA operates a global program to fight software piracy through a
combination of education and legal action. Initiated in 1985, the program
is aimed at reducing the damage done by software piracy--including lost
revenues, lost jobs, virus-contaminated products and higher software costs
for consumers.

Since 1988, the SPA has initiated more than 1,000 lawsuits and audits for
software copyright infringement, obtaining search and seizure orders
against a wide range of businesses, computer dealers, bulletin board
systems and educational institutions. A toll-free telephone hotline (800)
388-7478 is available to report businesses or organizations that are
pirating software.

The combination of education and litigation has proven successful for the
SPA in the United States. The most current estimates indicate that
software piracy has been cut by 40 percent since the anti-piracy programs
were initiated.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the personal computer software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the
leading publishers in the business, consumer and education software
markets. SPA members produce more than half of the $60 billion in software
sold worldwide each year. That includes revenues for all varieties of
software on all platforms in all worldwide markets. The SPA has offices in
Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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