OMB begins crackdown on software pirates in Metro Manila

First posted 05:12pm (Mla time) Sept 23, 2005
By Erwin Lemuel Oliva
INQ7.net


A DAY after warning Philippine businesses to beware of bogus groups raiding local Internet shops and other establishments, the Optical Media Board (OMB) surprised software pirates at several popular shopping centers in Metro Manila.
The OMB and local enforcement agencies raided stores in Shoppesville Plus in San Juan; Orient Pearl in Recto; Harrison Plaza in Malate, Metro Walk in Pasig City and shops inside the MRT Shaw Boulevard mall.

About 20,000 pieces of pirated installer software, interactive games software, software applications and illegal music files in MP3 format were seized, the agency said in a statement.

OMB estimated that the confiscated software amounts to about two million pesos-worth of pirated software.

OMB and agents from the Philippine National Police Regional Special Action Unit assisted the OMB in the raid.

The raid signaled the start of a major government crackdown under the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team, composed of the OMB, National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine National Police.

Phil. Daily Inquirer