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SINGAPORE : The Johor premises of two Singapore-linked companies were raided by Malaysian authorities for suspected use of illegal software last week.
Officers from Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism hit the premises of five companies in a three-day operation.
Eighty-one computers and 185 copies of infringing software from companies like Adobe and Microsoft worth S$1.6 million were seized.
Software industry watchdog Business Software Alliance (BSA) said of the five, two had Singapore shareholders.
These are not the first Singapore-linked companies to run afoul of copyright laws overseas.
In 2007, two Singapore companies operating in Batam were raided by Indonesian police for suspected use of illegal software following tip-offs received by the BSA.
The same year, the Malaysian arm of a Singapore-based home and bedding furnishing retailer was fined S$35,000 by a Malaysian court for use of infringing software. This followed a raid by Malaysian authorities after a tip-off was received through the BSA Hotline.
In Singapore, reports received by the BSA have so far resulted in three raids conducted by the Singapore Police on businesses for suspected use of illegal software.
The BSA has also raised the reward it will offer whistleblowers who report on such workplace misdeeds to up to S$50,000. - CNA/ms
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