Inspectors check computers at two companies and found many unlicensed software. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Two more companies, one each in HCM City and Ha Noi, have been found using unlicensed software, authorities alleged on Monday following a raid.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hi-tech Crime Police Department said they found Binh Hoa Electronic Joint Stock Company (Viettronics) on No Trang Long Street, HCM City, using 62 illegal applications on 38 computers. There was also some legal software in use.

Without going into details, the officials said most of the illegal applications were pirated versions of Microsoft, Autodesk and Adobe products.

The other company is South Korean-owned Miwon Viet Nam Company. The company's branch in the capital's Cau Giay District, had 38 computers with a large number of unlicensed software, they said.

A Miwon Viet Nam representative signed a statement confessing to infringement of intellectual property rights.

Tran Van Minh, deputy chief inspector at the ministry, said the violations of the IPR laws pertaining to computer software come in diverse forms, with a common trick being purchase of just a few licensed programmes for use.

Inspections would continue in the coming months, targeting firms suspected of using illegal software, he said.

IPR protection has become a priority for the Government in recent years, especially with the introduction of the Prime Minister's Directive 36 in 2008.

Use of pirated software also attracts criminal prosecution under the Penal Code, which came into effect in 2010. — VNS