The Business Software Alliance is investigating around 100
companies for use of pirate software following the end of a one
month grace period that was announced when a strict new copyright
law came into force.
On 1st April, 2001, the Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous
Amendments) Ordinance 2000 came into force in Hong Kong. The new
law states that the use of an infringing copy of a computer
software program in any type of business will constitute a criminal
offence punishable by imprisonment for up to 4 years and a fine of
up to HK$50,000 (£4,450) for each infringing copy of software.
The BSA told South China Morning Post that it is considering
evidence and information on use of pirate software in around 100
companies, both small and large, and will then decide which cases
to forward to Customs with a recommendation for prosecution.
The BSA describes the problem of business software piracy in
Hong Kong as overwhelming and says it is “the single largest
barrier to the development of the software industry in Hong
Kong.”
