Bangkok--1 Jul-- Illegal Stock of Pirated Software worth 1.9 Million Baht A computer retailer at the popular Zeer Rangsit high-tech marketplace was raided recently on suspicion of selling pirated software. The arrest yielded extensive CD and DVD compilations of illegally copied Computer Aided Design (CAD) software created by several software design companies, including Autodesk, Solid Works Corporation and PTC. The retail value of the confiscated software is estimated at 1.9 million Baht. The raid was carried out by the Economic and Technical Crimes Suppression Division. A 25 year-old employee of the retailer was arrested and released on bail. “The pirated software openly sold at Zeer Rangsit and other IT malls continues to blatantly break the laws of Thailand,” said Tarun Sawney, Director — Antipiracy, Asia, Business Software Alliance (BSA). “Continued crackdowns on the shops that sell pirated software are the only way to break the cycle of theft. Crackdowns have effectively worked to reduce piracy at other IT malls in the region, and we believe that consistent enforcement will work in Thailand as well.” Mr. Sawney points to Singapore’s Sim Lim Square in the 1990s as a place well-known for pirated software materials, akin to Bangkok's Zeer Rangsit and Pantip Plaza. But he says a series of crackdowns by the authorities saw the end of the Singapore shopping complex's sale of pirated materials. “Thailand can achieve compliance with copyright laws in much the same approach as other countries,” said Sawney. “The current level of software piracy at IT Malls in Thailand sends the message to the public that it is OK to break the law and that it is OK to steal the innovations of others. Ending the trade of pirated software at IT Malls would result in a significant boost of Thailand’s image in the global business and technology community.” The raid at Zeer Rangsit represents the first of the year against retail sales of pirated software. However, Thai police officials have had significant success in cracking down against illegal software use in the business community. Through the first six months of 2008, Thai police have raided dozens of companies suspected of violating software copyright laws, resulting in software infringement violations valued at more than 100 million baht.