Business Software Alliance (BSA), the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, has commended the UAE Ministry of Information for its effective campaign against software piracy, which is reflected in lowered piracy rate of 34 per cent, the lowest in the region.
BSA has cited the UAE success as a model for other countries in the region, and lauded the UAE authorities to effectively reducing piracy through legislation that prescribes legal action against violators of the Copyright Law.
BSA also commended the UAE Ministry Information for boosting coordination among government agencies for effective action against violators. These steps not only encouraged more end users to shun pirated software but also
enhanced the UAE's standing among global software developers, leading to increased software investment in the UAE, consolidating the UAE's position as the regional IT hub.
"The tough stance adopted by the UAE Ministry of Information has translated into an impressive drop in piracy over the past few years. BSA appreciates the role played by the Ministry in creating a safe environment for the software industry. Reducing and working towards eliminating piracy is crucial to a country's economic growth and an effective means to earn global goodwill.
Such measures can go a long way in leading a country into e-society, as has been amply proved in the case of the UAE," said Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, Middle East, Business Software Alliance.
Juma Al Leem, Director, UAE Ministry of Information, commented: "The UAE believes strongly in protecting intellectual property and has put in place proper laws to ensure that software developers earn their rightful share of the sale of software products in the UAE. Guided by the UAE Federal Government's firm policies, the Ministry of Information has successfully orchestrated interaction between all concerned agencies and the trade to combat piracy at all levels."
According to a recent global survey conducted by IDC on behalf of BSA, software piracy continues to be a serious issue in several regions of the world. It was estimated that in 2003 the global retail losses due to software piracy stood at a staggering US $28 billion, adversely affecting national economies across the globe.
The IDC study has placed the UAE at the top of the table of countries that have succeeded in achieving the biggest drop in piracy levels in the region. In 2003, piracy levels in the UAE stood at 34 per cent, as compared to 65 per cent in Oman, 68 per cent in Kuwait, 64 per cent in Bahrain and 63 per cent in Qatar.
The drop in piracy rates was achieved through a three-pronged action of Educating the consumers on the drawbacks of using pirated software by running extensive awareness campaigns, legislating watertight laws and enforcement of these laws through information sharing between various governmental departments, trade bodies and businesses. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
