36-year old Courtney Smith from Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Barker to 27 months in prison for selling more than $700,000 worth of counterfeit computer software on eBay.com. Smith acknowledged that he had purchased counterfeit copies of Rockwell Automation factory-management software through eBay, then duplicated it and resold it to other eBay users. Between March 6 and May 26, 2004, Smith received $4,149.97 for selling the counterfeited software in 32 auctions. U.S. FBI agents searched Smith's residence on December 15, 2004, seizing several computers, CDs, and devices used to create counterfeit software. Smith told investigators he made his own Rockwell Automation Software labels to affix to the software. Smith has forfeited the computers and other equipment he used and will make restitution to Rockwell Automation in the amount of $5,200.45. Barker also ordered Smith to pay a $2,000 fine.
News source: InfoWorld
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