Taiwan will provide crime evidence and information to the US to assist in the US' investigation of an alleged software-pirating ring. The information exchange forms part of a judicial assistance agreement signed with the US, an economics official said yesterday.
Lu Wen-hsiang (
Software companies claim the problem of software piracy is so widespread that it costs the industry US$12 billion a year.
After US law enforcement officials, led by the FBI, announced the arrest of 27 individuals in a suspected software piracy ring over the weekend, Taiwan contacted the US and learned that four of the 27 were born in Taiwan and three of them hold Taiwanese passports.
Lu said that the Intellectual Property Office, the Board of Foreign Trade, as well as related agencies are actively investigating any possible links that the ring may have to Taiwan.
Lu noted that Taiwan and the US signed a bilateral judicial-assistance agreement in mid-March under which each side could ask the other to provide related information on a case under investigation.
He said Taiwan would cooperate fully with the US after the latter made the request.
Lu stressed that the copyright on software is highly valued by most nations and that Taiwan is no exception -- especially after the country's entry into the WTO this year.
Lu said that the Executive Yuan has designated this year as the "action year" for protecting intellectual property rights in the country.
He said the government would rigorously crack down on piracy, step up awareness campaigns and sponsor training seminars on the matter.
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