August 08, 2007 19:34 PM
Aussino Fined RM80,000 For Possessing 'Pirated' Software
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Home and bedding furnishings retailer Aussino Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Aussino) was Wednesday fined RM80,000 or 12 months' jail by the Intellectual Property Court here for possessing eight 'pirated' copies of software belonging to Adobe Systems Incorporated, two years ago.
Its director Foo Fong Ling admitted to possessing four 'pirated' copies of 'Illustrator 10' and four 'pirated' copies of 'Photoshop 7.0' at its premises at Suite 8-10, Level 8, Wisma UOA II, 21 Jalan Pinang here at 12.30 pm on June 14, 2005.
In passing sentence, Judge Mohd Nasir Nordin said the court decision was made after considering the government's objective to rid the country of 'software piracy.'
"The setting up of the Intellectual Property Court shows that the government is serious in combatting 'software piracy.'
"The court wants the sentence to be a lesson not only to this company (Aussino) but also to the others," he added.
Aussino was charged under Section 41 (1)(d) of the Copyright Act 1987 punishable under Section 41 (1)(i) of the same Act which carries a fine of between RM2,000 and RM20,000 for each copyright infringed or five years' jail or both.
The Court was told a raid by officers from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and representatives of Adobe Systems Incorporated raided the office and checked 25 computers.
They suspected four computers of using 'pirated' copies of software. The computers were sealed and taken back for a thorough check.
The computers were found with four 'pirated' copies of 'Illustrator 10' and four copies of 'Photoshop 7.0.'
Aussino paid the fine.
-- BERNAMA
