A major Abu Dhabi company has been raided by police and Ministry of Information officials in a two-day action that saw two of the corporate's divisions investigated by the UAE authorities. The family-owned enterprise now faces the likelihood of prosecution under the UAE's copyright law.
Jawad Al-Redha, regional director of the Business Software Alliance commented: "This kind of action is totally avoidable. The BSA issues warnings to companies time and time again before reporting them to the authorities."
The BSA reported the end user company to the authorities following reports that the organization was using unlicensed software in its business operations.
Al-Redha added that "As a major regional trading hub, the UAE is home to sophisticated and successful companies who use business software products to underpin their operations. Using these tools without paying for them is no longer an accepted practice in the market, and companies face the risk of raids, confiscation of hardware and software and subsequent prosecution. Quite apart from the ethical considerations involved in using illegal software, companies have a legal duty to pay for the software they use."
The penalties under UAE law for the use of illegal software can include fines of up to 50,000 dirhams, confiscation of computer equipment and software and prison sentences of up to three years.
"Although we are obviously strongly in support of the UAE's strong stance on copyright, we are keen that companies should not leave themselves exposed to such legal measures, and do try to avoid this type of action wherever possible. Sadly, sometimes the only solution is recourse to the law, and this case was one such situation," said Al-Redha.
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is the voice of the world's leading software developers before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world.
BSA educates computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Corel Corporation, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates and Symantec. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
