ALLDATA Prosecutes Software Pirate

Joe Marconi · September 22, 2011

I found this on Aftermarket News, I thought it would of interest to everyone...

September 21, 2011

By aftermarketNews staff

ELK GROVE, Calif. -- ALLDATA this week has reported the successful prosecution of a software counterfeiting operation that had been illegally selling copied ALLDATA products.

On June 28, the ALLDATA Anti-Piracy team, in conjunction with the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, concluded a six-month investigation into illegally copied ALLDATA products being sold out of Northern California.

The subject of this investigation was publicly advertising the pirated software in his efforts to distribute it. Undercover officers conversed with the target, who agreed to provide the illegal product in exchange for cash. After the actions of the suspect placed him in violation of California law, he was taken into custody.

The efforts of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the ALLDATA Anti-Piracy Team resulted in the subject being charged with felony counts of Possession / Sale of Counterfeit Articles in reference to penal code 350 (A) (2), which states that the offense involves 1,000 or more articles. On July 27, the subject pleaded guilty to felony charges in Superior Criminal Court.

"We will not tolerate software piracy," said ALLDATA President Jeff Lagges. "More than 80,000 ALLDATA customers appreciate the value inherent in our software. Our customers trust us as the industry leader, and we owe it to them to protect their investment. Let the pirates be on notice that we will diligently investigate and prosecute every suspected case of counterfeit software."