BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a $10,000 agreement on Thursday with a Thailand-based seafood company to resolve allegations that it used unlicensed software to gain an unfair advantage over Massachusetts businesses.
Narong Seafood Company Ltd., a Thai processor of fish, allegedly unfairly delivered and sold products into the state using illegally pirated software to avoid paying the appropriate licensing fees. Failing to pay the licensing fees is a violation of MGL Chapter 93A and its prohibition on unfair competition.
"Businesses using unlicensed software should not gain an unfair cost advantage over rivals who play by the rules," Coakley said. "We are committed to ensuring that companies doing business in Massachusetts compete on a level playing field."
By avoiding the cost of obtaining legitimate licenses to software used in the activities of its business, Narong allegedly reduced its costs and obtained an unfair advantage over Massachusetts companies that paid for the rights to use the software.
The assurance of discontinuance with Narong was filed on Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court.
Under the terms of the agreement, Narong will no longer illegally use unlicensed software programs in connection with the manufacturing or production of goods entering the state. The company will also pay $10,000 in civil penalties to Massachusetts.
Mass. AG Coakley settles with Thailand seafood company
