PTI, Washington :
An Indian textile company has been ordered to pay a USD 100,000 penalty within 30 days by a US court to settle charges of using pirated software that gave it competitive advantages over American businesses.
Headquartered in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Pratibha Syntex Ltd exports cloths to top American companies including Walmart.
As per the settlement reached, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and has been approved by a judge, the textile company has agreed to pay USD 100,000 in restitution within 30 days.
“Pratibha Syntex engaged in illegal business practices that placed California garment companies at a disadvantage, while hurting American software companies’ ability to develop new and innovative products,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said.
“Businesses around the globe should be on notice that the state of California will hold them accountable for stealing intellectual property to unfairly undercut their competition,” she said.
The case assumes significance, as this is first time that a state government has secured a legally enforceable judgement against an international company for such violations.
In 2013, Harris sued Pratibha Syntex on the basis that it did not pay licensing fees for software it relied on for its business, including products manufactured by Adobe, Microsoft, and others, giving the company a significant cost advantage in the low-margin business of apparel manufacturing, shipment and sales.
An Indian textile company has been ordered to pay a USD 100,000 penalty within 30 days by a US court to settle charges of using pirated software that gave it competitive advantages over American businesses.
Headquartered in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Pratibha Syntex Ltd exports cloths to top American companies including Walmart.
As per the settlement reached, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and has been approved by a judge, the textile company has agreed to pay USD 100,000 in restitution within 30 days.
“Pratibha Syntex engaged in illegal business practices that placed California garment companies at a disadvantage, while hurting American software companies’ ability to develop new and innovative products,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said.
“Businesses around the globe should be on notice that the state of California will hold them accountable for stealing intellectual property to unfairly undercut their competition,” she said.
The case assumes significance, as this is first time that a state government has secured a legally enforceable judgement against an international company for such violations.
In 2013, Harris sued Pratibha Syntex on the basis that it did not pay licensing fees for software it relied on for its business, including products manufactured by Adobe, Microsoft, and others, giving the company a significant cost advantage in the low-margin business of apparel manufacturing, shipment and sales.
