NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents simultaneously raided the offices of two architecture and design companies and found allegedly pirated computer software in the companies’ computers, it was learned on Sunday.

                Two teams from the NBI’s Anti-fraud and Computer Crimes Division, led by Vicente de Guzman, early last week simultaneously served search warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court in Manila against Wang Pangilinan Design Studio Inc. and RVP Design and Development Consultants Inc. for the alleged use of computers with pirated software in their business.

                Wang Pangilinan Design Studio Inc. offers architectural and computer- aided design (CAD) drafting services, while RVP Design and Development Consultants Inc. offers architectural and interior-designing services.

                During the inspection, seven computers loaded with suspected pirated and unlicensed copies of AutoCAD, Autodesk Architectural Desktop and 3D Studio Max software were found at the Wang Pangilinan Design Studio Inc. office at Unit 1210 of Jollibee Plaza on Francisco Ortigas Jr. Avenue, Ortigas, Center, Pasig City. The office of RVP Design and Development Consultants at Unit 1008 of West Tower Philippine Stock Exchange Center, also in Pasig City, yielded 11 computers loaded with suspected pirated and unlicensed AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max and AutoCAD Revit Architecture software. All computers found loaded with suspected pirated software were seized for use as evidence in the cases that will be filed against these companies.

                “The design software is an integral productivity tool especially in preparing project plans and proposals for companies which are in the business of providing design and architectural services. These companies have intellectual creations of their own. It is just proper for them to acquire legal licenses for the software that they are using, just as they would expect others to respect their own intellectual property rights,” NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said out.

                “The raids against businesses using unlicensed and pirated software are now being conducted not only within Metro Manila but throughout the country. You can expect more raids against software piracy across the length and breadth of the archipelago as long as there are businesses that continue to use pirated software,” Mantaring added. --TJ Agcaoili

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NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents simultaneously raided the offices of two architecture and design companies and found allegedly pirated computer software in the companies’ computers, it was learned on Sunday.