Forwarded From: Nicholas Charles Brawn <ncb05@uow.edu.au>
01Jun98 USA: SPA COOPERATES WITH FBI IN FIVE RAIDS.
Software and Equipment Seized from Computer Fair, Residences and Vehicles.
WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire/ - SPA applauds the efforts of the U.S.
Attorney (Indiana) and Federal Bureau of Investigation in its crackdown
Saturday, May 30, 1998, against a suspected piracy operation in
Indianapolis, Ind., and Radcliff, Ky. The FBI, in cooperation with the
Software Publishers Association and its members, Autodesk Inc. and Adobe
Inc., performed several raids after a four-month investigation of
individuals accused of illegally replicating and selling CD-ROM
compilations and counterfeits of SPA members' software.
The suspects, working under the business names of "Indiana Micro Systems"
and "Atlanta Micro Systems," operated a booth at several MarketPro computer
shows in Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana, as well as at an AGI Computer Fairs
show in Indiana. On Saturday, May 30, FBI agents served search warrants on
the suspects' booth at a MarketPro computer fair in Indianapolis, two
residences, a business and the van used to transport the contraband. Agents
seized counterfeit software, unbundled software and hardware, including the
CD-ROM replicators used to manufacture the counterfeit CDs.
The investigation was initiated based on information indicating the
suspects were allegedly distributing unauthorized copies of SPA members'
software as CD compilations and counterfeits. The suspects allegedly sold
counterfeit copies of AutoCad Release 14 (normally a $3,750 product) on CDs
without documentation for $75 as well as a CD compilation with more than
$3,500 worth of Adobe software for $60.
Consumers can often recognize illegal software by looking for software and
printed packaging that may appear fuzzy (generally indicating counterfeit
software), statements on the CD saying "For Distribution Only With PC"
(indicating the software may be unbundled), software from many publishers
on a single CD (which generally means the software is also counterfeit) or
software sold far below the normal retail price - a deal too good to be
true probably is.
SPA is the principal trade association of the software industry,
representing the leading publishers as well as start-up firms in the
business, home office, consumer, entertainment and educational markets. SPA
supports companies that develop and publish software applications and tools
for use on the desktop, client-server networks and the Internet. SPA's 1200
member companies account for 85 percent of U.S. revenue for packaged and
online software. In cooperation with other states' law enforcement offices,
SPA is presently conducting investigations into computer crimes.
Hundreds of member companies look to SPA to protect their intellectual
property rights around the world. SPA combines strong anti-piracy education
and enforcement efforts through such programs as its piracy hotline,
800-388-7478, the Certified Software Manager (CSM) and Internet in the
Workplace courses, SPAudit, KeyAudit, videos, posters, direct mail
campaigns and other awareness materials. More information on SPA's software
piracy efforts can be found at www.spa.org/piracy.
SOURCE Software Publishers Association -0-06/01/98
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Received on Wed Jun 3 08:48:30 1998