Software gang gets hard time

SHANGHAI: Sentences for nine gang members involved in an international software counterfeiting scheme were upheld by the Shanghai High People's Court yesterday.

The nine, who sold millions of dollars in pirated software, had previously received sentences of two to nine years by the Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court.

From 2003 to 2007, the gang, led by Shanghai native Ma Jingyi, sold 677,000 copies of pirated computer software to US companies and individuals for $10.48 million. The gang's profit was more than 80 million yuan.