Two people were arrested last week for allegedly masterminding a multi-million dollar software software piracy ring following a joint operation by Greek and British police. The duo, one Greek and one Briton, are accused of selling counterfeit computer aided design software for $905, much less than the going rate, Reuters reports (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=6800377). The news agency adds that police allegedly recovered a computer, three hard disks and 7,000 CDs of "warez" pirated software in the process of arresting the pair.

This illicit trade cost the unnamed developer, a"multinational software firm", $360m, according to police. This figure assumes that anyone who used the counterfeit software would have bought the legit version and paid top whack for it, both questionable assumptions. ®

Related stories

Grand Theft Auto sequel leaked onto web (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/21/gt_web_leak/)
DrinkOrDie London trial opens (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/20/drinkordie_case/)
11 charged over 'biggest-ever' MS piracy bust (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/17/digital_marauder_charges/)
SMEs slammed for unlicensed software use (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/02/smes_slammed_for_unlicensed_software/)
Software pirates cost $9.7bn in Europe - BSA (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/07/bsa_software_piracy_study/)