Four plead guilty to eBay software piracy
Published May 1st, 2007
Four men have pleaded guilty to selling pirated software on the Internet auction giant, eBay. The four sold counterfeit Rockwell Automation software with a retail value of more than $19.1 million through the service, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Eric Neil Barber of Manila, Arkansas; Phillip Buchanan of Hampton, Georgia; Wendell Jay Davis of Las Vegas; and Craig J. Svetska, of West Chicago, Illinois pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Each of the defendants now face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Three other defendants have also received felony convictions in the case. Neil Barber admitted to 217 eBay auctions for the software, making him $32,500 in profit compared to retail value of $1.4 million. Phillip Buchanan sold the software at 67 auctions, earning a profit of $13,100 compared to a retail value of over $2 million.
Wendell Jay Davis admitted to selling 53 pieces of Rockwell’s software and earning $17,000 compared to a retail value of nearly $8 million. Craig J. Svetska admitted to 376 auctions, making a profit of $59,700 compared to a retail value of more than $7.6 million. Rockwell Automation produces specialized factory management software, with prices ranging from $900 to $11,325.
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