Game over: Two held on software violations

PHUKET TOWN: Police officers accompanied by a lawyer from a software firm seized 25 computers and made two arrests in raids on Internet gaming shops in Phuket Town this afternoon. The attorney, representing Asiasoft International Co Ltd, first went to Net Pic, on Damrong Rd, where 11 computers were confiscated, and then to Log-in Internet, on Ong Sim Phai Rd, where 14 computers were carted off. Officers allege that the game software, Ragnarok Online, a product of Asiasoft, was being used illegally on all 25 computers. Pol Capt Akanit Danpitaksat, of Phuket Town Police Station, said a company representative had complained to police that use of the software in the two shops was a violation of copyright. Officers arrested and charged Kittipob Angchuan at Net Pic and Thanate Rojanaprasit at Log-in Internet with copyright violations. Kittipob was released on bail of 200,000 baht. Both were charged with illegally using software for commercial purposes, which carries a maximum jail term of five years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both. Capt Akanit added that police will continue checks for software violations.