OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Friday 3.00PM.
POLICE raided six computer retailers in Durban and Cape Town this week, uncovering counterfeit software — mainly sourced from Asia — worth R4,5 million.
Attorney Marco van der Merwe, who acts for the Business Software Alliance, said on Friday: “This was a very sophisticated counterfeit product. It would have been extremely difficult for end-users to identify it as fake. We have sent the product to our laboratories for further testing. Based on what is found there we will be able to institute legal proceedings.”
Microsoft South Africa Software Legalisation Manager, Steve Cope said: “A substantial amount of the counterfeit software was Microsoft Office 97. We urge our customers to be aware of the penalties of buying counterfeit, or any pirated software, which can be as high as R5000 per illegal copy.”