Optical Media Board threatens local software pirates

MANILA, Philippines – The battle of the Optical Media Board (OMB) against local computer software pirates in on.

With its support on the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT), OMB on Friday threatened local companies which recently refused the on-the-spot inspection of the regulatory board with legal sanctions if they failed to prove that they were using licensed software.

The OMB eyed the South Metro Business in Alabang, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Cavite and Laguna, and seized the unlicensed software found in these areas.

According to OMB’s report, there were several firms which refused to be inspected but did not name them.

OMB said under the Optical Media Act, refusal of inspection orders was against the law and “the uncooperative persons or entities would be facing sanctions,” adding that they would be having court order against the companies.

“The businesses that refused inspection will have to report to the OMB headquarters and present an inventory of all the software they are currently using, or they will face corresponding legal charges,” OMB said.

Under the Intellectual Property (IP) Code of the Philippines, the use and sale of pirated and unlicensed software is a violation with P1.5 million charges and imprisonment of not more than nine years.

Meantime, PAPT said they would be conducting more operations this May in pursuance of its mission to enforce IP laws and abolish software piracy in the Philippines.

Carissa Caraig