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NBI raids 17 establishments, seizes P51-M worth of pirated software
Seventeen establishments were recently raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after these were found to use and/or sell pirated software products. An estimated P51 million worth of pirated software were seized by the NBI, agency director Nestor Mantaring said during a press briefing at its main offices in Manila. The raids also seized 136 computers (desktops and laptops) and eight (8) CPUs (central processing units) loaded with unlicensed and pirated copies of different software applications. Fourteen of companies raided were caught using computers that were reportedly loaded with unlicensed software. These establishments operated "within some of the biggest business districts in Metro Manila, namely eight (8) in Makati City, three (3) in Quezon City, and three (3) in Pasig City," Mantaring said. The remaining three were branches of a computer store that are located in Binangonan and Cainta, Rizal. These seizures formed part of a campaign of the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT), a government-led initiative to curb software piracy. The PAPT, whose members include the NBI, the Optical Media Board, and the Philippine National Police, recently launched a nationwide campaign to create software-piracy zones across the country. Using and selling unlicensed software is a criminal offense, punishable by up to nine-years imprisonment and a P1.5 million fine. “The NBI raids, and all the other activities of the PAPT, are not concentrated in limited areas," Mantaring said. "We at the NBI, along with our PAPT partners — the PNP and the OMB, will continue to be relentless in doing enforcement actions against software copyright infringers in more areas in the coming weeks," Mantaring said. The offices raided by the NBI include:
- Rolando Mercado Design Associates/RMDA Architects Co. in Makati City;
- Buruoj Architectural & Interior Design Services in Makati City;
- Moanima Inc. at 11F Vicente Madrigal Bldg., 6783 Ayala Ave., Makati City;
- Mizuken Global Solutions Inc. at 1606 Antel 2000 Corporate Center, 121 Valero St., Makati City;
- Arlen P. De Guzman Designs Associates Co. at 1274 Captain Apolinario St., Bangkal Makati City;
- Gateway Network Solutions Inc. / GN Solutions Inc. at Unit 359 3F Mile Long bldg., Rufino Cor Amorsolo St., Makati;
- DQA Environmental Design Inc. at 3F Cacho Gonzales Bldg., 101 Aguirre cor. Trasierra St., Legaspi Village., Makati City;
- Tyger 828 at Rooms 201–204, AD Center Square, Evangelista Street corner Amang Rodriguez Avenue, Pasig City;
- X-Habit with an office at 1251 El Inventor Complex, Amang Rodriguez Avenue (formerly Manggahan), Pasig City;
- Avecs Corp. and/or Avecs Steelworks and Services Inc. with an office at #21 Don Gregorio St., Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City;
- Microsourcing Phils. Inc. at 9F Ecommerce Plaza Bldg., Eastwood Cyberpark, Bagong Bayan, Quezon City;
- Functionsmith Sales & Services and/or Functionsmith Inc. at 781 Acasio St., Octagon Industrial Estate Subdv., dela Paz, Pasig City;
- Hilmarcs Construction Corp., at 1835 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Cubao, Quezon City.
