Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (RAK FTZ) announced Tuesday, July 17, 2007, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Business Software Alliance (BSA), the world's foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, to ensure a piracy-free environment within the free zone through the use of only genuine software.
“The MoU will leverage the combined resources of the RAK FTZ and BSA to reinforce anti-piracy initiatives, involved with strategically important, high value operations. We cannot afford to jeopardize our projects due to faulty software or pirated products, which is why all our systems are implemented with safe and legal software. Genuine products provide us with complete warranty, security of information and protection from corruption, faults and loss of precious data,” said Oussama El Omari, CEO and Director General, RAK FTZ.
“Forging an alliance with BSA was the next logical step for us in our efforts to make RAK FTZ totally piracy-free. As RAK FTZ has more than 3,300 international companies, it is our duty to encourage the use of legalized software within our community, and BSA will help us raise awareness of the necessity for Intellectual Property Rights protection within this community. We are proud to sign this MoU with BSA as it reflects our sincere commitment to ensure the protection of Intellectual Property Rights and to create a secure, business-friendly atmosphere for all investors,” he added.
Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, BSA, said: "The commitment shown by RAK FTZ to protect IPR and tackle software piracy is exemplary, as all companies operating in the Zone will be required to use only genuine software. This MoU also facilitates collaborative efforts to bring down piracy in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, while also helping attract fresh foreign investment into the country.”
“BSA has been actively involved in encouraging the private and public sector to curb software piracy and to encourage anti piracy efforts in the region. The end-users need to realize that using pirated products will result in significant losses on the long run and hamper economic development and progress,” he added.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
