Singapore to jail software pirates

October 20, 2004 - 10:24AM

Singapore will next year introduce jail terms and stiff fines for people who break software and internet copyright laws, the government said on Tuesday.

People found to be illegally using software or downloading off the internet will face a maximum six months in jail and a fine of 20,000 Singapore dollars ($A16,395) for their first offence, according to ammendments to the Copyright Act introduced into parliament.

Repeat offenders face three years in jail and a fine of 50,000 Singapore dollars.

The laws specifically refer to people who break the law "to obtain a commercial advantage" or infringe significantly, meaning individuals who download a limited number of songs or movies off the internet for personal use may be exempt.


Although the spokeswoman stressed the courts would set the precedent, she said people who downloaded one song or movie were unlikely to be prosecuted but "1000 could be pushing it".



Previously people who breached software and internet copyright laws in Singapore were only subject to civil action.



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