Record jail sentence in piracy case

By Staff Writer for Microsoft SA
Johannesburg, 20 Dec 2002

One of the largest counterfeit software cases in US history ended recently with the sentencing of Lisa Chen, 52, from Los Angeles, to nine years in prison. She was also ordered to pay $11 million in compensation.

According to US prosecutors the sentence is the longest prison term for a first-time conviction on software piracy.

Chen was one of four people arrested in November 2001 as part of a ring that prosecutors say imported nearly $98 million worth of counterfeit Microsoft computer products and software from Asia, including manuals, end-user licence agreements and other materials.

Mark Reynolds, group licensing compliance manager at Microsoft SA, says the reports from overseas indicate that the ring was broken up after an 18-month investigation.

"Chen was a key player in the ring, which was bringing high-quality counterfeit products into the US. The court ruling shows that authorities worldwide are really taking piracy seriously."

"The authorities are also taking piracy far more seriously in South Africa and, during the past year, we have seen their levels of success ... increase significantly."

He says the police are now working much closer with organisations such as the South African Federation Against Copyright Theft, as well as with customs.