Elspa livid as piracy charges abandoned

Dropped prosecution labelled 'blustering incompetence'.

The European Leisure Software Publishers Association (Elspa) and the Sheffield Trading Standards Authority have clashed over the release of five suspected software counterfeiters.

The decision by Sheffield Trading Standards not to prosecute an alleged gang of software pirates arrested with #1 million of counterfeit software has led to a rift with Elspa. The outrage is set to snowball with the revelation by Elspa that four of the five already have police records and two were on Crown Court bail.

Terry Anslow, chief investigating officer at Elspa, said: 'We are appalled and shocked by this blustering incompetence. One of those released has already been raided again by Elspa and Sheffield police.'

The official reason for dropping the prosecution was 'budgetary constraints', despite Elspa's offer to fund it. 'Trading Standards saw fit not to take up the offer,' said Anslow.

Richard Platts, general manager of Sheffield Trading Standards, responded: 'We have a wide remit and limited resources. Elspa obviously has industry funding and a narrow focus. We seized #30,000 of goods - the equivalent of a hefty fine. We are constrained in what we reveal. We will work with Elspa again but this has not helped.'

Trading Standards' lack of funding has led to Elspa taking up the slack.

Anslow said: 'Street traders are the Trading Standards' job. However, we have arrested 10 traders now on police bail. We investigated due to calls from retailers.'

Tracey Howe, anti-theft manager at Autodesk, said: 'Copyright laws are not strong enough. The government is losing taxes and the channel is losing revenue.'

Police in Thames Valley have smashed a Bracknell counterfeiting ring worth #20 million, one of the UK's largest hauls.

THE DEMAND FOR BIGGER SENTENCES
A Business Software Association (BSA) survey has revealed that European businesses are demanding heftier sentences for software counterfeiting and piracy is considered to be almost as serious as tax fraud.

The survey also revealed that 32 per cent of European software managers do not check their licences at all.

Emilia Knight, vice president and managing director of BSA, said: 'Checking licences is a way of ensuring legality. In 1999, BSA is going to strengthen its campaigns against those who use illegal software in the workplace.'