Foreign firms caught with unlicensed software

A task force including inspectors from the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism o­n Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection at ASTI Hanoi Electronics, a Japanese-invested manufacturer of printer electronic boards and electric cables located in Me Linh District.

The inspection team found computers using several unlicensed software programs, mostly applications widely used such as Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Lac Viet and Vietkey.

Suzuki Yuji, deputy general director of the company, acknowledged the transgression and admitted his company was breaking the law by using the programs.

Company management promised to purchase licenses for the pirated software programs.

The inspection force estimated that about VND550 million (U$32,500) in illegal software was being used at ASTI Hanoi Electronics.

A Thursday inspection at LS – Vina Industrial Systems, a South Korean joint venture company in Dong Anh District, found 58 computers containing pirated software programs such as Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Lac Viet, Vietkey, and Autocad.

Company deputy director Bui Bao Hung admitted to the intellectual property right infringement. Investigators estimated that almost VND1 billion ($59,000) in pirated software was being used by the company.

The inspectors are now drafting fines against the two companies.

Vu Xuan Thanh, chief inspector at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the ministerial inspectorate would continue software inspections at all forms of businesses nationwide.

He said his ministry had filed a decree o­n copyright-related civil penalties, which included a penalty of up to VND500 million for certain violations.