Symantec Corp. today announced that it has filed suit against a large network of distributors selling counterfeit Symantec software. The case against ANYI, SILI Inc., G.T. Micro, ASP Solutions, Mark Ma, Mike Lee, John Zhang, and other associated business affiliates was filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, CA.

In the filing, Symantec included claims alleging that ANYI, SILI, and their affiliates engaged in trademark infringement, copyright infringement, fraud, unfair competition, and false advertising. Symantec has asked for a jury trial and is seeking damages in excess of the estimated $15 million in profits reaped by the ANYI/SILI piracy ring that sold the counterfeit software.

"Aside from the financial loss incurred by this activity, counterfeit software can also damage a user's operating system due to faulty code or cause a user's system to be wracked with security vulnerabilities," said Joseph Fitzgerald, vice president, Intellectual Property and deputy general counsel, Symantec. "Symantec is committed to doing everything we can to protect our customers and the safety of their information, and that includes taking legal action."

Symantec initiated its own investigation into the matter as far back as February, 2004. Its investigation coincided with and supported other investigations initiated by various law enforcement agencies. Overall, the entire effort resulted in the seizure of more than 100,000 copies of counterfeit disks. Eight different business fronts associated with ANYI and SILI were named in the case, along with seven individuals. Symantec trademarks involved in the case include Norton AntiVirus, Norton SystemWorks, pcAnywhere, Norton Internet Security, and Backup Exec.

"ANYI, SILI and their affiliates run a global counterfeit distribution operation with a major focus in the United States and Canada," said William Plante, senior director, Corporate Security and Brand Protection, Symantec. "Their operations posed a tremendous threat to our customers, given the variety of outlets ANYI and SILI have developed to distribute and sell counterfeit Symantec software to unsuspecting consumers."

In addition to damages, Symantec is also seeking information about any other suppliers associated with ANYI/SILI; seizure of all existing inventory of the counterfeit Symantec software held by ANYI and affiliates; and finally, a permanent injunction against ANYI/SILI from conducting further business.

By Symantec