Socraweb

An of the suspected that end previous December in frame of an international operation against softwarepiracy became arrested, has been condemned till almost three year imprisonment. Barry Erickson, a 35-birthday employee of Symantec, pleaded offender causing of 2.5 until 5 million dollars (2.75 until 5.5 million Euros) damage. He is the first member of the pirates group DrinkOrDie that punished becomes for the spreading of illegal copies of programs. Different other members must yet appeared for the right.

During the trial said the accuser that Erickson technology of Symantec passed at DrinkOrDie-members.,. These with that could get around the protection on software and offer gepirateerde versions online. That happened via secret websites and closed chatkanalen on IRC-servers.

Erickson was one of the software pirates that during operation 'Buccaneer' became arrested. The international police action under leadership of the American customs had an extension in six countries, below which Norway and the United Kingdom. Around the same time found also enter places by the Dutch university of Twente by which different students became arrested for the spreading of illegal software and media.

At the time of operation 'Buccaneer' said the American customs that DrinkOrDie responsibly was for ninety per cent of all illegal software on the Internet.,. In the rear said a spokesman that the group only one of ten such pirates groups was and that further action not so stay away.

Over the condemnation of Erickson said federal Attorney General Paul McNulty that “the long imprisonment that he got, demonstrates that the ministry of Justice it on stands that copyrightwetten also count in the cyberwereld”.,