Hong Kong Customs last week launched a new reward scheme that
offers up to HK$40,000 (around £3,500) to any members of the public
who provide information on the use of unlicensed software in
businesses to assist in enforcement actions. The scheme will run
for three months and is being financed by the Business Software
Alliance.
Since April 2001, anyone who knowingly uses pirated software in
business commits a criminal offence under Hong Kong’s Copyright
Ordinance. The maximum penalty is imprisonment of four years and a
fine of $50,000 for each infringing copy. At present, Customs is
investigating about 60 cases involving the use of pirated
software.
After the implementation of the new legislation, Customs and the
BSA claim that piracy has dropped.
Rewards under the new scheme will be paid out according to the
following three stages:
- An initial payment of HK$5,000: where information provided on
the use of pirated software in business leads to seizure in the
company concerned of at least 20 computers installed with pirated
software, or pirated software with a value of not less than
HK$250,000.
- An additional payment of $15,000 will be made where the
information provided leads to criminal charges being laid against
the company concerned under the Copyright Ordinance.
- A final payment of $20,000 will be made where the information
provided ultimately results in convictions by court.
Customs is appealing to all businesses to use legitimate
software as well as to implement proper software asset management
measures in order to comply with the law.
