Anti-Piracy Team Warns Visayas Businesses of Software Inspections
30 August 2013
The Philippine Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) has warned businesses in the Visayas region to use licensed software.
Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Ricardo Blancaflor, told the Philippine Star newspaper that continuing to use fake software could lead to severe – even fatal – consequences to businesses as violators are subject to criminal prosecution or administrative sanctions such as business permit cancellations, bans from travelling overseas or US visa revocations.
“We encourage businesses to use genuine software for a stable and safe business environment. Especially those businesses in the Visayas region that are not using licensed software, we recommend that they standardize on genuine as soon as possible because we might visit them next,” Blancaflor said.
PAPT has inspected companies south of Manila, in the Laguna and Batangas areas, including Automated Technology Philippines, Diversion Industries, Fastech Synergy, Glades International, Miyasaki Polymer, Nikkoshi Philippines, Paete Manufacturing, Renewable Products Group and Tann Philippines, the newspaper reported.
“To lower the piracy and counterfeiting rate in our country, IPOPHL has taken to the lead in conducting regular visits in the Metro South region to emphasize the importance of IP in all industries,” Blancaflor told the newspaper. “Use of stolen or misappropriated information for business operations is a crime and through these visits, we are further creating awareness on how businesses should avoid piracy.”
