SINGAPORE — A computer shop at Kembangan Plaza was raided by the Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB) of the Singapore Police Force yesterday (Nov 17) for allegedly selling unauthorised software licenses and computers bundled with counterfeit software.

In a statement urging consumers and small businesses to be “wary” of unintentionally buying and using counterfeit software, software giant Microsoft said that authorities seized 43 units of laptops installed with suspected counterfeit copies of Windows 7 Pro and Office Enterprise 2007. The computers were sold with fake Certificates of Authenticity that could mislead customers into believing the software installed were genuine. The total commercial value of the seized goods was estimated at S$80,000.

It is also understood that the company operating at the shop had advertised the sale of unauthorised license keys and claimed they were genuine.

A police spokesman confirmed to TODAY that the raid had occurred at around 3.15pm, as part of a collaborative effort with Microsoft.

Microsoft said it was alerted to the case by a “concerned computer vendor, when their customer demanded a refund of a genuine copy of software he bought because he claimed the same software was sold by the raided vendor at a cheaper price”.

“The raid by the IPRB serves as a timely reminder for consumers and small businesses to continue to remain vigilant against pirated software, which often leads to increased security risks and threats from malware and viruses, not to mention the economic impact of software piracy to consumers and businesses in Singapore,” Microsoft said.

“It is important for consumers and retailers to ensure they obtain their software products only from trusted vendors and local authorised sources,” it added.

The raid yesterday was one of several that has been conducted by the authorities in recent months. In September, a 20-year-old man was fined S$20,000 for selling unauthorised software product or license keys on several local online websites.

Those found guilty for the manufacture for sale, sale of infringing copies and possession or importation of infringing copies, are liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 for each infringing copy, up to a total of S$100,000 per charge, or jail of up to five years. Offenders, may also be liable to both a fine and imprisonment if found guilty.