The Intellectual Property Branch ("IPRB") of the Criminal Investigation Department recently caught software pirates by surprise by executing a raid on a Sunday for the first time. Over S$1.28 million worth of illegal software including pirated Video CDs ("VCDs") and CD-ROMs, were seized from 10 shops and 12 men were arrested. The estimated 128,000 pieces of pirated software seized makes this the largest haul from retailers for the year.
Irregular raids conducted in the past did not prevent the pirates from persisting in their illegal activities. The IPRB believes that its new approach will be more effective in cleaning up the piracy scene in Singapore. For a start, there will be an increased police presence in places where vendors of pirated software are known to operate. The IPRB aims to "cripple the industry" by "mounting intensive operations to make sure that no shops or outlets for pirated software will continue to operate".
Presently consisting of 36 police officers, the IPRB was originally a small unit set up to battle pirates selling illegal software and VCDs. Today, the IPRB works in tandem with other anti-piracy watchdogs such as the Business Software Alliance, Interactive Digital Software Assocation and Videogram Association, and specialises in targeting software pirate syndicates.
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