THREE United States computer software giants are applying to the High Court to get the director of a small, local kitchen-design company sent to prison.
The action for committal for contempt of a court order is the latest turn in a long-running case of alleged software piracy being brought by Lotus Development Corp, WordPerfect (now owned by Novell Incorporated), and Autodesk Incorporated.
They are suing First Top Building Material Supply Company, now in liquidation, and Tsoi Chi-yin, its former director.
The case began when First Top received a fact-finding, computer-virus survey devised by Business Software Alliance which promised a free gift for completed returns.
The respondent did not suspect that the global organisation, which included big-name members such as Microsoft as well as the plaintiffs in this case, was investigating software piracy.
Peter Garland QC, appearing for the plaintiffs - Lotus Development Corp, WordPerfect and Autodesk - told the High Court yesterday the person who filled out the form for First Top said most of its commonly used software was acquired by reproducing it from other computers in the office.