BSA raids S’pore shipping firms in Batam for suspected use of illegal software

[chinasuckz]

Updated: 11/18/2013 16:10 | By Channel NewsAsia

BSA raids S’pore shipping firms in Batam for suspected use of illegal software

SINGAPORE: The Software Alliance (BSA) said two Singapore companies in Batam have been raided for suspected use of illegal software.

The alliance, which represents major software firms in the world, said the two joint venture businesses were raided alongside an Indonesian firm.

In a statement on Monday, it said the crackdown happened last Wednesday, November 13, and the firms are in the shipping industry.

It said Indonesian police seized 35 computers and software suspected to be infringing the copyrights of BSA members Adobe, Autodesk, MacAfee and Microsoft.

The suspected illegal software is estimated to worth a total of S$85,000.

BSA Senior Director of Anti-Piracy for the Asia Pacific Tarun Sawney said, "We're seeing an ominous trend where lack of central governance by businesses is resulting in the spread of software piracy into other geographies where they have operations."

The Software Alliance urged companies with overseas branches to practise good software housekeeping across all their premises. - CNA/gn