Business Software Alliance (BSA), the organisation dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, is to launch a public awareness campaign about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) at GITEX Dubai 2004 exhibition. The exposition, which is the Middle
East's largest IT trade fair will be held from 3-7 October 2004 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
BSA's presence at Computer Shopper 2004, the retail arm of GITEX Dubai 2004 and the region's largest consumer exhibition for IT products and services to be held in Airport Expo Dubai between 2-8 October 2004, is aimed at
highlighting the benefits of using original software and the influence it has on raising creativity, productivity and quality of work.
BSA has planned to organise massive information and awareness campaigns targeted at the visitors and traders through distribution of flyers and information packs and online quizzes. The campaign will run through out GITEX and aims to educate resellers and end-users about the benefits of using original software and offer practical tips and resources for better software management. In addition, BSA has advised the exhibitors at Computer Shopper 2004 to ensure that all the software they are selling is original.
BSA's watchdog committee will monitor the sale and usage of software during the show and prevent any illegal trading activity.
"GITEX Dubai assembles some of the world's biggest IT players and attracts trade visitors from across the region, who are here to showcase their hardware and software solutions. Such an event presents an ideal opportunity for
BSA to highlight that software piracy harms not only software developers but also national economies and local employment prospects," said Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, Middle East, Business Software Alliance.
Software piracy continues to pose a serious threat to economic development in several parts of the world. The recently published IDC-BSA study has revealed that 36 per cent of all the software installed in computers worldwide
during 2003 was pirated, amounting to losses to the tune of US$ 28 billion.
Significantly, the UAE achieved remarkable results in controlling piracy in 2003 with levels of 34 per cent. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
