KUWAIT CITY Kuwaiti authorities have seized more than 35,000 pirated compact discs containing counterfeit software in a major bust that saw five retail shops closed down, AFP reported the Business Software Alliance (BSA) as saying on Wednesday.

The raid resulted in the closure of seven sites, including five shops, an office and a flat used for duplication, all owned by the same company, BSA regional director Jawad al-Redha said.

"The result of actions like this, unfortunate though it may be that they are necessary at all, is the growth of a new, level playing field for vendors and users of information technology in Kuwait," Redha said.

Kuwait, under pressure from the United States, passed an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) law last year to protect various artistic and computer products and all forms of printed materials.

A joint committee from the ministries of information, commerce and interior in addition to the Kuwait City Municipality was also established to ensure full implementation of the law.

However, inexpensive but illegal videotapes, cassettes, CDs for video games and other software programs are still sold freely on roadsides and in shopping centers.

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