According to this news story from the Associated Press, the Malaysian government along with the BSA or Business Software Alliance, has performed a raid in the capitol city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, that has resulted in the shut down a karaoke bar. The establishment allegedly had more than 5000 unlicensed songs in its computer system.
Under the Copyright Act, the owners could face a minimum 10 million ringgit ($ 2.6 million) fine - 2,000 ringgit ($ 536) for each song not registered, he was cited as saying by the Bernama national news agency. The karaoke bar was one of three businesses raided this week in a blitz against illegally copied software and other computer piracy, which officials and industry observers say is rampant in Malaysia. Officials also announced Wednesday they had seized eight computers and pirated software worth about 75,000 ringgit ($ 19,740) from two retail stores in Kuala Lumpur's suburbs. Under anti-piracy laws, the companies and their executives could face penalties of up to five years in jail and a fine of 20,000 ringgit ($ 5,400). In the karaoke raid, officials seized more than 100,000 ringgit ($ 26,300) worth of sound equipment and a computer containing the unlicensed software and songs. |
Since June the first, five businesses have been raided in
this latest crackdown on computer piracy. Meanwhile, thousands of other
suspected copyright infringers have been sent warning letters indicating they
could be next.
According to the Business Software Alliance, nearly 70 percent of new software used in Malaysia is illegal.
Source: AP News My Way
