Police have completed an investigation of three companies in Serpong district, Tangerang, accused of using pirated computer software.

"The directors of the three companies will soon stand trial as the cases are now in the hands of the prosecutors," Serpong Police chief Adj. Insp. Dewa Wijaya said Wednesday.

Police have named eight other companies in the industrial district of Tangerang suspected of using pirated copies of Microsoft software.

None of the suspects have been taken into custody.

Serpong Police examined the computer software at 20 companies in the area between November and January.

Only nine companies could prove they were using original products, while 11 others were found using pirated versions of Microsoft Office Personal Edition 2003, Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Windows XP 2002, WinZio, Symantex Anti Virus 9.0, Adobe Photoshop CS2, ACDSee Pro and AutoCAD 2004.

The 11 companies have been identified as tissue paper manufacturer PT Jakarta Indomega, building materials producers PT Arthamix and PT Karya Beton, finance companies PT Verena Otomotif Finance, PT BPR Marcoindo and PT BPR Indomitra, spring bed producers PT Hugar Rama Grapindo and PT Standar Consitura, and printing firms PT One Stop Digital Printing, PT Matrix Acuan Media and PT Panca Usaha Tama Paramitha.

"The illegal use caused billions of rupiah in losses to the software producer.

"We confiscated two CPUs from each company as evidence so as not to disrupt their business," Dewa said.

The companies have been charged under the 2002 law on intellectual property rights and the Criminal Code.

If convicted, company executives could face prison terms of up to five years and Rp 500 million fines.

During the operation, police involved experts from the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

BSA representative Donny A. Sheyoputera said that alliance fully supported police efforts to uphold the law and protect intellectual property rights holders.

"I hope this can be a good example for other law enforcers across the country in their efforts to protect intellectual property rights so that piracy can be reduced," he said.

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