Software pirate sent down in victory for BSA

The Business Software Alliance is celebrating this afternoon after a three-year investigation resulted in the imprisonment of a prolific software pirate.

Lewisham Council Trading Standards and the BSA conducted the joint investigation into the activities of Bilal Khan, 23. Khan was being investigated for selling counterfeit software online, including popular products from Adobe, Macromedia and Microsoft.

Khan, who the BSA claims was turning over around £300,000 per year, used online auction services eBay and QXL to sell his pirate software but fell under the spotlight of authorities after consumers began complaining about unfulfilled orders and the obvious illegitimacy of the software.

Khan's product descriptions all gave purchasers the impression that they were buying genuine software products.

Khan was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he has already served four. The sentence took into account a breach of bail after his initial trial at which he pleaded guilty.

Khan was subsequently recaptured, having fled to Pakistan, when he returned to the UK and was caught on a routine driving offence.

Khan was also ordered to pay costs of £15,000 which will be awarded to The London Borough of Lewisham.