Seafood firm in IT piracy net

Tech > Computer

Published: 20 Oct 2012 at 20.44
Online news: Computer

A Thai seafood company has agreed to pay $10,000 to resolve allegations by the US state of Massachusetts that it used illegal software.

According to Legal News Line, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the settlement with Thailand-based Narong Seafood Company Ltd last Thursday.

Ms Coakley said the Thai fish processor unfairly delivered and sold products in the state using pirated software to avoid paying the appropriate licensing fees.

"Businesses using unlicensed software should not gain an unfair cost advantage over rivals who play by the rules," she said in a statement.

A total of 38 US states have passed or are preparing to pass Unfair Competition Acts (UCAs) with beefed-up provisions specifically to combat information technology piracy.

The laws seek to punish foreign companies that enjoy an unfair cost advantage over American businesses because they use unlicensed software.

Massachussetts, Louisiana and Washington already have UCAs specifically directed at piracy. Some European countries are considering similar laws.

Thai legal experts have been urging Thai companies that export to the US to ensure their software is legal. Even if the software the companies use has nothing specifically to do with the products or services they sell, they could still be investigated and charged.

Under the terms of the agreement with the state of Massachusstts, Narong Seafood agreed to pay $10,000 in civil penalties.

The Thai company also agreed to no longer use unlicensed software programs in connection with the manufacturing or production of goods entering Massachusetts.

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kba
Post : 31
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Discussion 8 : 21 Oct 2012 at 13.558
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So the Thai officials will handle it ? On their computers with pirated software, !
The company pay their bills through Thai banks who there also use pirated software !
Shall the police make reports on their computers with pirated software ??
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gleentea
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Discussion 7 : 21 Oct 2012 at 10.397
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rontorr,

Try reading the article.

"Businesses using unlicensed software should not gain an unfair cost advantage over rivals who play by the rules,"
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bikeme
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Discussion 6 : 21 Oct 2012 at 10.256
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So how did the AG from Massachusetts know that they used illegal software in their operations? Did the fiefdom of Mitt send her on a fact finding mission to Thailand, a day of criminal investigations, two days on the beach, a day of criminal investigations, two days.....
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pitanu
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Discussion 5 : 21 Oct 2012 at 08.305
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Agree with D3 totally, even if they were fined USD 100,000 it still wouldn't hurt the company! Cost of labor is much lower in Thailand, and food processing is very labor intensive.
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rontorr
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Discussion 4 : 21 Oct 2012 at 06.414
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I fail to see how using pirated software to produce seafood is unfair competition for other seafood processors.
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lookmoo
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Discussion 3 : 21 Oct 2012 at 05.523
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It will never level the playing field. As long as foreign companies can get their USA affiliates/subsidiary to go +-0 or even operate at loss they can transfer profit out of USA untaxed. The set of regulations was forced by USA on other countries is now ripping USA of on every dollar.

10.000 Dollars just a small mistake... earned back in days
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joe_blow
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Discussion 2 : 20 Oct 2012 at 23.442
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Level the playing field.....compete fairly and above the table....not with pirate software, corruption and ill gotten gains. Good for everybody. The sooner Thailand and the other third world players figure this out the better it will be for all of us.
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Acutus
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Discussion 1 : 20 Oct 2012 at 23.021
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This is a VERY good news and love to see more of it.
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Seafood firm in IT piracy net | Bangkok Post: tech