Business Software Alliance (BSA), the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, has lauded Qatar for the remarkable progress the country has made in combating software piracy and protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) during the year 2005.
BSA’s note of appreciation for Qatar came in the light of the release of an annual global software piracy study released by BSA and conducted by IDC (International Data Corporation), the IT industry’s leading global market research and forecasting firm, which showed Qatar to have successfully brought down piracy levels in the country to 60 per cent in 2005, from 62 per cent in 2004. In reducing piracy rate by two percentage points, Qatar has, along with Kuwait, achieved commendable performance last year.
Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, BSA Middle East, said, “The drop in piracy levels is ample evidence that Qatar’s determined efforts to protect IPR laws are earning rich dividends. Qatar’s achievement is all the more creditable when set against the backdrop of widespread adoption of IT solutions and an influx of new PC users in the country. We commend the Qatari authorities for this remarkable performance, and hope this success motivates them to continue more vigorously their fight against software piracy.”
“For BSA, it is heartening to note the progress Qatar has made in its fight against piracy, as we have been working closely together with local authorities in their education and enforcement efforts,” Al Redha added. “BSA will continue to offer every possible support to help Qatar further improve the country’s standing in the global piracy order.”
Qatar has seen a steady fall in its software piracy levels over the years. According to the IDC report, total losses incurred by Qatar on account of software piracy in 2005 totaled USD 21 million.
It is noteworthy that Qatar introduced a revamped law for the protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights (Law No. (7) of 2002) in the country. This law is being implemented strictly to protect the rights of software companies and boost national economy. Companies found to be violating the law will face major penalties in view of the harm caused to the business sector and the end-users because of the use of pirated software. These measures are in keeping with Qatar’s strategy to provide a healthy business environment for the IT sector and enhance technological investments of local companies.
Al Redha said, “The Qatar Ministry of Economy and Commerce has stepped up its activity in the field of IPR in light of the major economic boom that Qatar is currently witnessing, evidenced by the numerous economic projects being launched in the country and the increase in foreign investments across business segments. In addition to laying strong emphasis on the implementation of IPR laws, the Ministry is conducting several educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness among IT users on the importance of protecting IPR.
Editor’s Note:
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace BSA helps governments and consumers understand how software strengthens the economy, worker productivity and global development and how its further expansion hinges on the successful fight against software piracy and Internet theft. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce.
BSA members include: 4D, Adobe, Agfa-Monotype, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, BVRP Software, Centennial, Cisco Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Grupo SP, Entrust, HiT Internet Technologies, HP, IBM, iInventory, Intel, Intergraph, Internet Security Systems, Intuit, LMS International, Macromedia, Magix, Mamut, McAfee, Microsoft, Microstar, Nemetschek, O&O Software, OWG, Panda Software, Realviz, RSA Security, SIA, SolidWorks, Staff & Line, Sybase, Symantec, TeamSystem, Trend Micro, UGS PLM Solutions, VERITAS Software, Visma, WRQ.
