Fight fakes

A high profile raid sends a signal to pirates.

Delhi-based Icon Multimedia, allegedly engaged in the illegal distribution of pirated products of Business Software Alliance (BSA) members Microsoft and Avid Technology, was subjected to a civil raid recently.

The raid on Icon Multimedia was carried following High Court orders. The raid led to the recovery of a computer loaded with pirated software ready to be delivered to a customer.

Additionally, the search also led to the discovery of 12 writeable CDs, which allegedly contained pirated software of the Microsoft and Avid Technology.

The alleged modus operandi for Icon Multimedia was to install the unlicensed software on to the computers that were sold to its customers.

The raid does not come without warning. Delhi High Court had earlier granted an interim injunction restraining Icon Multimedia from copying/reproducing, selling or loading on hard disks of computers any pirated/unlicensed version of Microsoft and Avid Technology software.

Commenting on the case, BSA co-chairman for India, Ajay Advani said, "This raid should serve as an example to the dealer community. It is illegal to load computers with pirated software. Not only will BSA take action against the dealer, if the customer uses the pirated software, he too will be guilty of both a criminal offence and a civil wrong."

It is tragic to India's development cause that the gravity of the offense is so poorly understood. According to a recent study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), a 10-point reduction in software piracy can add 1,15,847 jobs, contribute $5.9 billion to GDP, deliver $386 million in taxes and give $8.2 billion in revenues to local vendors, in India alone.