Software Piracy Ring Cornered

The U.S. Customs Service last week executed 37 search warrants in 27 cities nationwide as part of its largest investigation ever into software piracy. The raids led to five arrests, including as yet-unnamed execs at high-tech companies. Customs officials allege the suspects illegally distributed all types of electronic media: computer games, Microsoft Windows, and digitized versions of movies. The Business Software Alliance estimates that one in three business apps in use in 1999 was an illegal copy, costing software vendors more than $12 billion worldwide.