NBI agents raid 3 firms, seize P50-M worth of illegal software

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized more than P50 million worth of pirated software in operations conducted in Manila and other cities last week.

On July 7, NBI agents conducted raids on Freyssinet Filipinas Corp. at España Tower on España Avenue in Sampaloc, Manila; Mana Architecture and Interior Design Co. on Annapolis Street in Greenhills, San Juan City; and Sigma Bear Inc. and Creative DesignLabs Inc. in Quezon City where they confiscated computers which contained around P50 million worth of pirated software.

According to a report submitted by NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division chief Rommel Vallejo, the bureau conducted the raids based on complaints it received from US-based software manufacturing company SoftAutodesk Inc.

A total of 119 computers in which unauthorized reproductions of Autodesk Inc. software had been installed were seized in the operation.

The search warrants for the raid were issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Amor Reyes.

Earlier, the Manila City government launched a zero piracy campaign in the area by imposing a ban on the selling of pirated CDs and DVDs in Quiapo.

This was after a report from the Washington-based Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) named the area as among the world’s 21 most “notorious markets” for pirated and counterfeit items.

In a report posted on the website of the US Embassy in Manila, the USTR said Quiapo was “one example of several locations and neighborhoods [in the Philippines], especially in Metro Manila, known to deal in counterfeit and pirated goods such as clothing, shoes, watches and handbags.”

On Tuesday, Mayor Alfredo Lim and Optical Media Board Chair Ronnie Ricketts were awarded plaques of appreciation by the Philippine Association of Recording Industry Inc., the Motion Pictures Anti-Film Piracy Council Inc., and the Association of Video Distributors of the Philippines for strictly implementing the zero-piracy campaign.