Enforcement against Illegal Software Use Intensified on Industrial Estates More tips suggest continuous use of unlicensed software in manufacturers

Monday 12 March 2018 18:21
The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) of the Royal Thai Police continues to receive tips that help identify companies using illegal software in the areas of Bangkok and industrial estates. With just two months in 2018, police have raided more than 38 companies for using unlicensed software.

People and copyright holders are sharing information about companies using unlicensed software with ECD police through many channels. The tips received contain enough details about use of illegal software in companies located in the areas of Bangkok and manufacturers in industrial estates nationwide; for example, Chonburi, Rayong, Sumutsakon, Nakonrachasima and Sumutprakan. Since the beginning of the year, more than 38 raids have been taken place, involving 690 PCs where unlicensed software worth over Baht 79 million was installed and used. Programs of Autodesk, Microsoft, MasterCam, Solidworks and Thai Software are frequently found being used without licenses.

Police reports further find that raided companies were in the industries of metal casting molds, furniture, plastic, electronic parts, construction and architecture services, interior design and decoration services. One of them is a big and well reputed firm found to be using unlicensed software for designing and others on more than 50 PCs within its organization.

Pol. Col. Winai Wongbuppa, ECD Deputy Commander, said enforcing the law to deter companies from using illegal software is necessary, as well as educating them on intellectual property protection laws. Business organizations, regardless of which industry they are operating in, should have knowledge and information about the use of software within their organizations and should monitor to ensure that software that is being installed and used is fully licensed to avoid legal remedies and other risks including cybercrime and reputational risks.

At this moment, the Royal Thai Government is fighting against infringements of intellectual property rights that are harming the reputation of the country and impairing Thailand's credibility in international trade and investment. The Government has instructed relevant agencies to monitor, prevent and enforce the law to deter use of counterfeit goods, and ECD police has been cracking down on copyright violations including use of illegal and unlicensed software. We would like to ask for cooperation from business entities and people to comply with laws to increase the protection of intellectual property rights in Thailand.