Software giant Microsoft says pirate syndicates are now working with unscrupulous computer system builders to peddle counterfeit software that is practically indistinguishable from the real deal.

Microsoft's corporate attorney for intellectual property Jonathan Selvasegaram said the company has been receiving 'an increasing number' of complaints from both consumers and its business partners about counterfeit software being sold with new computer systems.

Mr Selvasegaram did not want to say more as investigations are ongoing, but noted that a syndicate making high-end counterfeit software in China, busted a few months ago, had been shipping its products here.

Previously, pirate syndicates peddled low-margin, easily identified fakes. In 2005, Microsoft began noticing high-end fakes that came with holographic stickers, manuals and glossy retail boxes 'practically indistinguishable' from the originals, he said.

The high-end counterfeits are also priced close to what the originals go for, to complete the illusion of legitimacy.

Such prices also mean that each sale could generate profits of hundreds of dollars, compared to the few dollars that a low-end fake yields.

A Nanyang Technological University student was jailed four months in 2005 for selling such high-end fakes.

Mr Selvasegaram, who was interviewed on the sidelines of the trial of a man accused of selling pirated software, said consumers should visit Microsoft's website for instructions on how to check if their products are the real thing.

The accused, Goh Hai Pah, was sentenced to six months' jail yesterday for selling pirated Microsoft software - the low-end type - at his Ang Mo Kio shop.

He was caught with over 1,000 CDs of pirated software such as Windows, Office and Zoo Tycoon with a street value of more than $500,000 during a police raid in 2004.

Before his first court hearing, Goh, who is in his late 40s, jumped bail and was arrested on Nov 13, which is why his case was concluded only yesterday.

Goh pleaded guilty at the Subordinate Courts to 10 charges of selling copyrighted software, which carries a maximum penalty of $1 million in fines and 50 years' jail.

When District Judge May Mesenas asked Goh if he had anything to say in mitigation, he said through an interpreter that he did not have money to pay any fines and asked for a light jail sentence.

The prosecuting counsel, law firm Lee & Lee's senior partner Toh Kok Seng, then asked the court to hand down a deterrent sentence in the light of the high value and quantity of the contraband, as well as Goh's subsequent flight from justice.

Lee & Lee had applied for and obtained an authorisation from the Public Prosecutor to prosecute the case on behalf of its client, Microsoft.

chuahh@sph.com.sg