OMB to rev up anti-piracy drive

The Optical Media Board said that in a bid to rid the country of all forms of software copyright infringement, its agents have been hard at work identifying possible violators and imposing penalties on those found guilty of violating the intellectual property rights (IPR) and OMB law.

Late last month, agents from the Intelligence Inspection Division of the OMB conducted surprise inspections of business establishments in Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

The OMB confiscated thousands of optical discs and other equipment such as central processing units, CD-ROMs and CD burners the business operators allegedly utilized for copyright infringement. 

OMB executive director Rosendo Meneses said the OMB will see to it that all business establishments, from multinational companies to Internet cafes, all over the country will be inspected in the next few weeks.

Meneses said the OMB is strongly committed to hunt down software pirates and conduct more inspections in Metro Manila and other cities around the country where piracy is known to be rampant.

Software piracy is a violation of the country’s IPR law and violators face up to nine years in jail and a fine of up to P1.5 million.

“Let this serve as a warning to all copyright violators: Your days are numbered! The OMB will stop at nothing until the menace of piracy is eradicated in the country,” Meneses said.

He urged the public to be “more vigilant and report business establishments who are engaging in software piracy.”