Tech Shout!

Raids in the southern region of China have exposed a 2 billion dollar global software piracy syndicate. It is believed that the syndicate is one of the largest in the world. The FBI and China’s Public Security Bureau led this investigation.

Software giant Microsoft also played a huge role in the exposure of this piracy ring by providing the FBI with information that ultimately led to arrests of people concerned as well as confiscations of pirated software.

On discovery of the Chinese piracy ring, it was realized that the group’s power was widespread and far-reaching. Software produced by the group was found in five continents and 26 countries.

What’s more; around 13 different products in at least eight languages were found to be pirated copies. The most notable pirated software was Windows Vista Premium and Office 2007, both of which happen to Microsoft products.

Investigators on this case were able to trace around 55,000 pirated copies of the software back to this group. However, the discs that were seized on account of these raids represent just 1% of the estimated output of the Chinese piracy syndicate.

According to Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith, “Customers around the world are turning you in, governments and law enforcement have had enough, and private companies will act decisively to protect intellectual property.”

In fact, Microsoft went as far as to say that countries all around the world should now be able to see a “significant decrease” in the amount of available pirated software thanks to the latest busts.

“This case should serve as a wake-up call to counterfeiters,” added Smith.

This probe was part of a much larger investigation that has been going on since 2005.