Symantec snags £700,000 from pirates

SECURITY OUTFIT SYMANTEC has won a hefty £700,000 in damages and costs from a naughty bunch caught counterfeiting its software.

The case was filed by Symantec against Robert Waterman and Essex based Nusoft Trading Limited, for dealing in 35,000 illegal copies of remote access tool pcAnywhere.

The defendants are also subject to a court order that says they are not allowed to do it again.

"While the amount of damages is certainly significant, more importantly, our goal was to put a stop to this operation's dealings in counterfeit Symantec software and to protect any unsuspecting users from using fraudulent security software," said spokesSymantec John Brigden.

The guys also grassed on all their mates, giving up the skinny on the production and distribution of the counterfeit software.

As a result Symantec has also taken enforcement action and obtained settlements against a German replicator and several distributors involved.

"We were also able to secure all information from this business regarding their production and distribution process, and intend to use that information to press the case against others involved," said Brigden.

Symantec says the guys have already coughed up the £700,000 in full, but has warned that they could be accountable for another £1 million if their information regarding their distribution and sales network turns out to be faulty or inaccurate, or if they do it again. µ