Software Piracy and Copyright Infringement has long been a plague eating up valuable revenue for the developers in the developing countries. Countries like Pakistan, India, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh etc have always been center of attention when it came to Piracy. Despite having big population numbers, Software developers have not concentrated on these potencial markets, which can be a source of great revenue for them if the markets are utlised properly, and some efforts are invested in eroding software piracy.
Microsoft though has just started to focus on the Pakistani market, and as such they had jointly organized training session for Federal Investigation Agency to increase the awareness of Copy Right Infringement. Its a good initiative , but unless and until copyright infringement is not given serious consideration on the Legal front, not much is going to change.
The session was aimed at identification of different forms of copyright infringement, detection of counterfeit software, and investigation of software evidence to prosecute culprits in the court.
Country Manager Microsoft Pakistan, Kamal Ahmed, shed light on Microsoft’s commitment to safeguarding interests of the consumers and said, ‘The ability of the government and IT eco-system to create new jobs and a better quality of life through information technology is strongly affected by how they handle piracy.’
‘Pakistan needs to demonstrate its unwavering resolve to combat piracy on an urgent basis to improve its competitiveness in the IT industry. A legal environment that protects intellectual property rights (IPR) and takes a robust approach to software counterfeit trade is essential.’
According to a statement issued here, Microsoft and FIA had realised the need to ensure a proactive counter-strategy to protect the interests of Pakistani consumers who end up paying original price for pirated software.
In the year 2008, Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored by the Business Software Alliance downgraded IT competitiveness of Pakistan to 62nd.
An alarmingly high rate of software piracy which stands at 84 per cent negatively impacted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the software industry and research and development within the economy.
Training programme, delivered by experts from Microsoft, was attended among others by representatives of all branches of FIA including crime circle wing, cyber crime wing.
Corporate Attorney, Antipiracy Microsoft, Middle East and Africa, Dale Waterman, presided the session and said, ‘The commitment of FIA in countering software piracy sends a very clear message to counterfeiters that Pakistani government is serious about stopping this form of criminality and are willing to protect their citizens from the harm caused by pirated as well as counterfeit software.’
He said that currently, about eight out of 10 softwares being run on PCs were pirated. This resulted in huge losses not only to legitimate businesses but also to the national exchequer in terms of lost taxes and duties. FIA had a leading role in addressing this situation and Microsoft is keen for working with FIA to support them in delivering this commitment.
Mir Zubair Mahmood, Director FIA Sindh, informed the participants of recent initiatives of FIA in countering crimes of piracy and counterfeit.
In his comments, Mir Zubair said, ‘In an environment which is highly prone to counterfeit or pirated software, the local software companies are unable to compete on a level playing field. This lack of opportunity prevents them from competing in the international arena and attracting the much required investments in our country.’
Tech Updates
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ethically, its very wrong to use others’ intellectual property without permission however, there are other broader ethical issues too. For instance, the WTO, the new world order, World Bank’s and IMF’s interventions in the developing countries’ governance, the modern capitalist trends of the ‘developed’ countries and last but certainly not the least these MNCs use and abuse of the cheap labour from countries like Pakistan, (the western programmers being paid sinfully more than the developing countries’ programmers)… is that all ethical? Why is Microsoft interested in protecting Pakistani consumers’ right? Aren’t they only interested in their own sales growth in this highly populated region of the world? Why dont they also shed some light on the ethical issues of their own drive to ‘capitalist globalisation’ and their cut-throat race to capture the ‘Asian markets’? Of holding world’s 80% of resources in areas with world’s 20% population? Should now be the time to reverse this capital and profit flow from the eastern markets to the west? Isn’t piracy somehow justified in this broader ethical perspective? Come on let the poor kids use pirated copies of your expensive software that they’d otherwise never be able to buy. Many of these kids grow up to become brilliant programmers and serve you willingly at dirt-cheap rates…
American copyright law has progressed with its riches. When it lagged behind europe zero protection for copyright from overseas, then steady extensions for how long something can remain copyrighted for (people use to joke it moved in line with the age of mickey mouses copyright expiry!). So yes it is in a way protectionism and the US shows no fear of breaking others copyright when it needs to (for instance told the Canadian holders of a copyright on anthrax vacine to get stuffed).
You get what you reap , the fact is all the developing countries programmers get very scant wages as compared to their counter parts in any other developed country, They cheat us some ways or the other and so do us . Nature keeps the balance so keep a mum and dont talk about piracy uncle SAM is bullshitting us .
I used to think it was unethical, but some people can put forward a pretty good argument about the validity of owning intellectual rights. I am worrying less about people using my work to make a buck.
I have gone through the above comments specially of Ms. Asima Awan which has to be balanced, I think we should understand the issue of IPRs logically, we should negociate with Micosoft for reasonable prices which should be based on GDP per capita of the country, istead of teaching our nation of illegal ways, as we have signed international agreement including TRIPS Agreement of WTO and Pakistan is a member of WIPO, Its time to understand and guide the people to follow the right way. Protection and promotion of IP is the only way toward development, even now people are dying from cancer, AIDS etc. like deseases just because for these medicinces are yet to be developed if we will not protec the inventors no one will waist his/her time in R & D for this.
That?s Too nice, when it comes in india hope it can make a Rocking place for youngster.. hope that come true.
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