(Above photo) An agent of the Intellectual Property Rights Division of the National Bureau of Investigation marks the label of one of the seized computers during the recent raid against Global Team Space Philippines Inc. (Below photo) A total of 50 computers loaded with suspected pirated copies of Adobe, Autodesk and Microsoft software were seized during the raid.

Manila, Philippines – A local affiliate of a Korean architectural company was raided recently by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation’s Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) for alleged violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (RA 8293). The raiding team headed by Atty. Joel M. Tovera, Executive Officer of IPRD, confiscated a total of 50 computers and a large number of software from Global Team Space Philippines Inc. (GTSPI) at its offices in the 30th Floor of Discovery Center on ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Lawyer Dante B. Bonoan, Chief of IPRD said that GTSPI is an architectural firm affiliated with the Space Group Korea. The said firm was found to be using computers loaded with different versions of Adobe, Autodesk and Microsoft software which were believed to be unlicensed and pirated.

“The total value of the computers and software seized from the company is estimated at almost 14 million pesos,” Bonoan added.

“We, at the NBI, acknowledge the important contributions of foreign investors to our country’s economy. However, we would also like to remind them of the need to abide by Philippine laws, including the IPR laws” said NBI Director Nestor Mantaring. The use of unlicensed and pirated software is a violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and is punishable by up to nine years imprisonment and a maximum fine of 1.5 million pesos.

Mantaring added: “Using pirated software in fact is harmful to the economy as it shows a disregard for Intellectual Property Rights or IPR and thus discourages companies holding valuable copyrights and patents from investing in the country. It also causes loss of jobs and revenues, actual and potential, in the IT and allied industries as well as losses in tax revenues for the government, which are greatly needed to help in our economic recovery”.

GTSPI’s local team complements Space Group Korea’s team in the delivery of the architectural design requirements of its clients worldwide. The company takes pride in the creativity and high-tech art works of its projects.

“Business software is an integral asset of businesses today. Architectural design firms such as GTSPI rely heavily on computer-aided design software to deliver their designs, and should ensure that their software is licensed and legal. Being in the creative industry themselves, I am sure they value the copyright protection that the Intellectual Property Code accords to their architectural designs. In the same token, they should themselves respect the copyright of others,” said Atty. Bien Marquez, Consultant for the Philippines of Business Software Alliance (BSA). The BSA is a non-profit organization promoting the use of licensed software especially among businesses.

The NBI is part of the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) along with the Philippine National Police and the Optical Media Board. The PAPT was organized by the government to go after companies using pirated software. Earlier this year, the PAPT launched the “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late” campaign which was designed to make businesses aware of the risks of using pirated software including the disruption of their business if they are subjected to a PAPT raid, and hefty fines and even imprisonment if they are eventually found guilty of copyright infringement. The campaign is continuing and is gaining steam in light of active support of the general public and the concerted efforts of the NBI, the PNP and the OMB.

In support of the campaign of the PAPT, the BSA offers a reward of up to one million pesos to anyone who provides information leading to a successful action and prosecution against a business establishment using unlicensed and pirated software. Informants can submit their report through BSA’s hotline numbers, (02) 895-6438 and 1-800-10-BSA-HTLN (1-800-10-272-4856, toll-free).

For more information about the PAPT and the “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late!” campaign, call the PAPT Secretariat at (02) 692-9516 or visit www.papt.org.ph.