The government has moved to curb software piracy by controlling the prices of CDs, VCDs and DVDs as well as computer software, reports said today.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted by The Star as saying the cabinet had decided to place the items under the Price Control Act so they could be sold at reasonable prices, thereby discouraging the public from buying pirated versions.

The government intervention followed requests from consumer bodies and also due to the industry's reluctance to heed a call to lower prices to help fight piracy, he said.