LARGEST ANTI-COUNTERFEITING RAID EVER TARGETS FAKE MICROSOFT PRODUCTS

Recent raids and arrests in China have marked the culmination of a multi-year investigation into a software counterfeiting syndicate based in the southern China province of Guangdong. The syndicate is allegedly responsible for manufacturing and distributing more than US$2 billion worth of counterfeit Microsoft software. The investigation into this syndicate, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, was led by the FBI and China's Public Security Bureau (PSB), with assistance from the software company as well as its customers.

Microsoft's senior regional manager of anti-counterfeiting and internet safety, Brian Williams, says the case began with leads from a variety of sources and developed over the course of several years, due to the sheer size of the operation. "This particular organization was producing essentially all the high-quality counterfeit product that was shipping around the world," he told China Law & Practice.

"This was the single-largest syndicate that was producing ... any product for which there was a demand. The bottom line is that this set of raid and arrest actions will have a huge impact, and serve as a major wakeup call for those involved in counterfeit software production and distribution," says Williams, who hopes that the raids will dissuade others from getting into the business. In his view, support from high levels of PRC government will hopefully send a message that such individuals are no longer untouchable.