OMB washes hands off PAPT report on firms linked to pirated software

MANILA, Philippines – The Optical Media Board clarified Friday that a report by the Philippine Anti-Piracy Team which identified 10 businesses that were allegedly found to have

AP FILE PHOTO

pirated software did not come from the agency and was released without its approval.

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, OMB Executive Director Cyrus Villanueva said that he did not approve the release of the statement that was issued by the PAPT late last year.

When sought for clarification in the wake of denials issued by at least five of the 10 companies that the PAPT identified to have allegedly used pirated software, Villanueva said the OMB could not issue one since the release did not come from them.

The OMB, however, is part of the PAPT that also include the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The PAPT could not be reached as of posting time as the phone number listed on its website was not in service.

In its report posted on INQUIRER.net last January 4, the PAPT released the names of the companies following a crackdown in Metro Manila, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

But Villanueva, in a text message to INQUIRER.net following the phone interview, contradicted the PAPT report, saying, “”There are no violations with any of the 10.”

“They were inspected but no violation of the Optical Media Act (RA9239) was found,” he said.

Those which claimed to have complied with the law against piracy and were issued certificates were: Lloyd Laboratories, Inc., Peregrine Development International Inc., Santeh Feeds Corp., Meycauayan College, and Sumidenso Automotive Technologies Asia Corp.

In its report, the PAPT said: “Twenty-one sacks of assorted pirated CDs including various versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office, Xbox games and assorted software installers were discovered during the crackdown.”

“Upon inspection, PAPT required these businesses to show proof of compliance but none were able to do so,” it said.

Related Stories:

10 businesses found using unauthorized software in anti-piracy campaign

Bill seeks stiffer piracy penalties

Government intensifies campaign against software piracy