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IPSA International Works With Microsoft in Largest Recorded Canadian Seizure of Counterfeit CDRS
(Vancouver, Canada) - March 27, 2002 - A British Columbia law enforcement official called it "the largest recorded seizure of its kind in Canada."
IPSA International, working with its client Microsoft and the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia contributed to a major victory against software piracy in Canada on February 27th, with charges now pending against an Abbotsford, B.C. man in connection with a multi-million dollar operation involving counterfeits of computer programs belonging to Microsoft and other companies.
Approximately $4.5 million dollars in sham programs were seized after IPSA made several purchases of pirated software in an undercover investigation.
The suspect allegedly supplied counterfeit computer programs via the Internet.
Michael Eisen, Microsoft's Canadian director of law and corporate affairs, states that software piracy is a major international problem and that currently about one in three business applications sold in Canada is a pirated copy.
Pirated software: Buyer beware
"In the year 2000, there was a retail loss of $450 MM in Canada. The quality of the discs can range from poor to terrible," Mr. Eisen told the National Post in a published report. Mr. Eisen noted that purchasing pirated software is in itself a risky business. "The buyers end up being the loser as these programs often contain computer viruses and they are not subject to support services."
The retail loss of $450 million wasn't the only negative financial impact upon Canada in the year 2000. Software piracy also cost Canada an estimated $1.9 billion in wage and salary loss and more than 32,000 jobs, according to a study by the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft.
The bust was developed by Microsoft with the support of IPSA's Tom O'Carroll, a former Scotland Yard detective who is now its private investigative operative.
High tech crimes are especially taxing upon the resources of law enforcement agencies in Canada and other countries. In many cases, there is a lack of public pressure to deal with the issue, even though the issue has a dramatic impact upon the national economy.
Says Mr. O'Carroll:
"Our work has been a direct result of this malaise, which by the way is an anomaly. The public eventually will be stirred against software crime when it realizes the immense devastation it causes. So for now, large corporations such as Microsoft forge relationships with expert security firms with personnel that includes former police officers who can conduct in-house investigations that can be turned over to the authorities when ready. That's what we do; and we think we do it extremely well and in a most professional manner."
About IPSA International, Inc.
IPSA International, Inc. is an international risk advisory firm which provides clients in the corporate, financial and legal communities with high-end investigative consulting services. IPSA's preferred practice areas are: Anti-Money Laundering, Intellectual Property,
Asset Location, Fraud Investigations and Due Diligence services.
Contact: Rubenstein Associates, Inc. Peter M. Hamilton 212-843-8015
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