Prison Sentences for Ringleaders of Global Software Counterfeit Syndicate
04/02/2008 09:06
PR Newswire
REDMOND, Washington, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --
- Sentencing signals the end of Taiwan-based operation, the largest known
producer and distributor of fake Microsoft products in the world from 1997 to
2003.
Prison sentences handed down to counterfeiters by a Taipei, Taiwan, court
mark the end of a string of successful prosecutions by international law
enforcement agencies, bringing a global software counterfeiting ring to a
final halt. Between 1997 and 2003, Huang Jer-sheng, owner of the Taipei-based
distributor Maximus Technology Inc, and his associates were responsible for
the production and distribution of more than 90 per cent of the high-quality
counterfeit Microsoft software products either seized by law enforcement or
test-purchased around the world.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
The syndicate produced counterfeit versions of at least 21 Microsoft
software products in seven known languages, English, French, German, Italian,
Polish, Portuguese and simplified Chinese, worth an estimated $900 million
(US). These products were then distributed and ultimately sold to unwitting
resellers and consumers in over 600 cities and at least 22 known countries
and regions across the globe: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Croatia,
Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Paraguay, Philippines,
Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago,
the UK and the US.
Following an extended investigation and prosecution by the Taiwanese
authorities, assisted by Microsoft Corp, Huang Jer-sheng was sentenced to
four years' imprisonment on 31 Dec 2007, equalling the longest sentence
handed down for this type of crime in Taiwan's history. Huang Jer-sheng's
three co-defendants were sentenced the same day to imprisonment terms ranging
from 18 months to three years.
"The prison sentences handed down in this case in Taiwan -- and the
dozens of other criminal cases brought by prosecutors around the world
against others associated with these Taiwan-based defendants -- provide
another stark reminder of the consequences of counterfeiting Microsoft
products," said David Finn, associate general counsel for Worldwide
Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft, speaking at the 4th Global
Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, Dubai. "Microsoft applauds
the work of the Taiwanese authorities in taking such strong enforcement
action against this syndicate. This case is another testament to the strong
partnership between local law enforcement authorities and private companies,
and shows the impact those partnerships can have in getting counterfeit
software off the market and bringing criminal counterfeiters to justice."
Huang Jer-sheng and his associates worked with counterfeiters in both
Taiwan and southern China. Two CD replication plants in Taiwan, Chungtek
Hightech Enterprise Ltd and Cinway Technology Co, were the main production
centres for counterfeit software discs and components that were later found
throughout the world.
According to John Newton, manager of the Intellectual Property Crime
project at INTERPOL, "The criminals behind counterfeit syndicates are
organised, resourceful and willing to spend large amounts of money to develop
and ship pirated goods to markets all over the world. Piracy is a crime, pure
and simple, and it is imperative we coordinate our efforts across the globe
to stop these criminal syndicates and this illicit trade."
The prosecutions of this international ring of counterfeiters, led by
Huang Jer-sheng, mark the culmination of a number of complex, global
investigations conducted over a six-year period, which resulted in the total
dismantling of this criminal counterfeiting syndicate. The investigations and
prosecutions spanned five continents and resulted in the imposition of
significant prison terms in Asia, North America and Europe. In addition to
these prosecutions in Taiwan, other notable criminal cases related to this
international ring of counterfeiters were brought against suppliers in China,
Germany, the UK and the US between 2001 and 2007.
The Microsoft Genuine Software Initiative
These legal actions are part of Microsoft's efforts to combat software
piracy through its Genuine Software Initiative. Microsoft launched the
Genuine Software Initiative in 2006, and since then it has intensified its
efforts to protect customers and channel partners from the risks of
counterfeit software through an increased focus on education, engineering and
enforcement. More information about Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative
is available at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 13,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and
services in 138 countries and territories.
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