Santo Domingo.- The Justice Ministry and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) obtained a definitive conviction for software piracy against the construction company, Malespín Constructora.

The Santo Domingo Province Court of Appeals handed down the ruling in May, which the defendants didn’t challenge.

According to the ruling, Mr. David Parra as administrator of Malespín Constructora, as well as the company, will have to pay a fine equal to 25 minimum wages, a figure which can total 500,000 thousand pesos, according to the calculation which the sentencing judge applies. The evaluation of the damages from the illegal use of software will now be established.

The BSA had denounced this company in 2008 and the Santo Domingo Province Office of the Prosecutor conducted the inspection in August 2008, finding more than 20 computers which had 37 programs without licenses.

“This amount on which they were convicted is unprecedented in Dominican Republic and sends an extremely harsh message to the possible violators, as well as to the owners and lawyers of cases which are still unfolding,” said Montserrat Duran, BSA Legal Topics Director for Latin America. “This highly bolsters our actions in DR.”

The country’s piracy rate declined 76% this year, thanks to the combined efforts by Dominican authorities.

The country’s software industry loses an estimated $87 million dollars.