Autodesk, the world leader in 2D and 3D design software, has seized pirated copies of its industry-leading ‘AutoCAD 2007’ software worth Dh1 million ($272,235), from an engineering consultancy firm in Abu Dhabi.

The piracy raid, which was done alongside the UAE Ministry of Economy and Salem Al Maddfa Advocates & Legal Consultants, is part of the company’s campaign to bring down the incidence of intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in the country.

Prior to the raid, Autodesk had profiled the customer and found that around 70 of its employees were utilising ‘AutoCAD 2007’ software without legal licences for the product. Consequently, the manufacturer had sent warning letters and contacted the consultancy firm a number of times to discuss and resolve the matter in a civil manner; however, lack of response from the company prompted Autodesk to take a more drastic action.

“Our crackdown on illegal software across the country is aimed at putting a stop to these illegal activities that corrode the local industry, which we are working so hard to build and maintain,” said Ahmad Al Jassim, country sales manager, Autodesk Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service