Local custom offices have checked shops in four cities for more than one week, and found pirated software with a value of more than HUF 40 million. Based on past experience it seems that Nav N Go navigation software solutions are the second most pirated after Microsoft's products - announced IPR Consulting Ltd, trademark protecting representative of Nav N Go.

Budapest, Hungary - Local custom offices have recently checked four cities: Eger, Gyöngyös, Szolnok and Jászberény. Several computer and mobile telephone shops have been examined, and criminal procedures were started in 14 cases. More than 40 computers and hard disks, 500 smaller data storage devices, and numerous GPS units were taken. The damage value is estimated to be at least HUF 40 million.

Based on previous check results, the operation systems and office applications of Microsoft Corporation are the most pirated products; Nav N Go navigation software solutions are listed second on the piracy top list. During the examinations a dozen pirated iGO navigation software products were found on average in all the shops except for one.

In many cases, operation systems were being installed in the service part of the shops during the time of the raids. The shop-keepers caught in action tried in vain to hide installation discs from their computers. In other cases it was obvious that illegal software was installed only minutes or hours before the raid.

In some shops, none of the notebooks for sale contained legal software. Furthermore, in some cases only one operating computer stayed in the shop after the departure of custom officers.

The most pirated softwares from Microsoft Corporation are Windows XP, Windows 7, Office 2003 and 2007, while Nav N Go's most popular product continues to be Nav N Go iGO 8.

The richest collection of fake iGO Navigation softwares were owned by two companies from Jaszbereny and Gyöngyös - the applications on their computers were collected in separate folders, according to the different interfaces.

The effectiveness of these inspections have indicated that already after seven days - presumably as an effect of spreading news - the outcome of raids was more positive: in the majority of the inspected stores recently-installed genuine or free softwares were running.

How to verify that the purchased Nav N Go software is genuine?

The IPR Consulting suggests, consumers ask the sellers to prove the authenticity of the software when purchasing it, or ask specifically what software is installed on the hardware if this is not indicated.

Nav N Go and IPR, the trade mark protecting representative, inform customers that they can check the software's product support and authencity on the www.naviextras.com portal. It is advised to visit www.naviextras.com right after the purchase. After connecting the device to the computer the system will recognize the software if it is genuine. If piracy is suspected, please report it directly to the trade mark protecting representative under +36 20 989 7705 or office@iprconsulting.hu.

IPR Consulting also raises attention to the fact that infringing products and importing them to the territory of the European Community, will be seized and destroyed.