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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1988
LCESS IN FIGHT AGAINST COMPUTER SOFTWARE PIRACY
IN ITA THE
STAN:
SUCCESS
VILLE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT HAS ACHIEVED GREAT "IGHT AGAINST COMPUTER SOFTWARE PIRACY IN THE PAST 11 MONTHS, TRADE CONTROLS OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S TRADING "VESTIGATION BUREAU, MR JOHN LAM, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
LAM WAS ADDRESSING A GROUP OF 90 COMPUTER STUDIES 1 FACHERS OF SELDARY SCHOOLS AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE COMPUTER EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
HE SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT, A NUMBER OF PRINTERS AND BINDERS OF PIRATED COMPUTER MANUALS AND THEIR SECRET STORAGE PLACES HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN, THEREBY CUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY OF THE INFRINGING GOODS TO THE MARKET.
HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE RAIDS CONDUCTED IN THE GOLDEN SHOPPING ARCADE IN SHAM SHUI PO IN JULY AND AUGUST THIS YEAR.
"THE DEPARTMENT'S DETERMINED CAMPAIGN HAS FORCED ILLEGAL TRADERS EITHER TO CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS OR MOVE AWAY. THE ARCADE HAS NOW BECOME A MUCH BETTER AND CLEAR PLACE FOR LEGITIMATE COMPUTER BUSINESS," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A SERIES OF RAIDS DURING THE PERIOD HAD RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF PIRATED GOODS VALUED AT OVER $15 MILLION AND THE ARREST OF 76 PERSONS.
"THE DEPARTMENT STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT THE COMPUTER PIRACY HAS SHUNK TO A CONTAINABLE LEVEL AND THAT PIRATED PRODUCTS ARE NOT EASILY OBTAINABLE IN THE TERRITORY," HE ADDED.
NOTING THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME RETAILERS OFFERING CHEAP DISK-COPYING SERVICES, HE STRESSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO SUPPPFES THESE ILLEGAL TRADERS.
MR LAM ALSO GAVE AN OUTLINE OF HONG KONG'S COPYRIGHT LAW AND THE LAW RELATED TO COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES.
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