AfterDawn: News

Four plead guilty to eBay software piracy

Four men have pleaded guilty to selling pirated software on the Internet auction giant, eBay. The four sold counterfeit Rockwell Automation software with a retail value of more than $19.1 million through the service, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Eric Neil Barber of Manila, Arkansas; Phillip Buchanan of Hampton, Georgia; Wendell Jay Davis of Las Vegas; and Craig J. Svetska, of West Chicago, Illinois pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Each of the defendants now face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Three other defendants have also received felony convictions in the case. Neil Barber admitted to 217 eBay auctions for the software, making him $32,500 in profit compared to retail value of $1.4 million. Phillip Buchanan sold the software at 67 auctions, earning a profit of $13,100 compared to a retail value of over $2 million.



Wendell Jay Davis admitted to selling 53 pieces of Rockwell's software and earning $17,000 compared to a retail value of nearly $8 million. Craig J. Svetska admitted to 376 auctions, making a profit of $59,700 compared to a retail value of more than $7.6 million. Rockwell Automation produces specialized factory management software, with prices ranging from $900 to $11,325.

Source:
Yahoo (AP)

Written by: James Delahunty @ 29 Apr 2007 19:25

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• 4 comments

• borhan9

  I just don't get why these guys are soo silly on trying to do this. The fact is it's on Ebay. You of course will get found out.

  30.4.2007 13:07 #1

• domie

  You'd be amazed my friend, i could surf through ebay for half an hour and find about 500 pirates for you selling counterrfeit or oirated dvs,cds,clothes, everything under the sun.
  Ebay knows they do it but does nothing because they take a 10% cut of all profits, they only act when law enforcement agencies force them to.
  The result is that the majority of pirates have been operating on ebay for over 12months and still going strong.
  It all depends on whether the company that produces the stuff they are pirating is actively looking out for fake auctions with their products for sale.

  30.4.2007 13:47 #2

• gallagher

  amazing how ebay gets away with overlooking the crime all to earn a buck, when others such as Napster and the file-sharers have taken the fall for the exact same thing. Double-standard.

  30.4.2007 18:53 #3

• joemi7

  Domie, what you say is sooo true. I've been ripped off too & eBay doesn't want to know about it. The guy who sold me the fake sells 1000's & the latest I heard is that eBay get 20% now so why would they want to stop him.

  5.5.2007 06:09 #4