In an added boost to the region wide efforts in curbing software piracy, Robert W Holleyman II, President and CEO of Business Software Alliance (BSA), the foremost organisation dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, has lauded the commitment shown by various governments, and public and private sector organisation to curb this menace.
Speaking to reporters in Dubai, on his first visit to the region, Holleyman said, “It is certainly heartening to note that piracy levels in the Middle East have declined. The UAE has led the way in the region with regard to bringing down piracy levels and it is encouraging to know that we are headed in the right direction. The local governments have extended their total support and commitment by working in close coordination with BSA and adopting various anti-piracy measures.”
“We need to accept the fact that we cannot expect a totally piracy-free world. However, what can be achieved and what has our overriding principle been throughout is to keep piracy levels to a minimum – not only in the UAE, but around the world,” he added. “In this regard, BSA has achieved key milestones in the region and the credit goes to all members of BSA and to our supporters from Public and Private sector.”
According to a study commissioned by BSA, piracy levels in the UAE stood at 34 per cent, which was not only the lowest in the Middle East and North Africa region, but was also lower than some developed countries including France, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The achievement of the UAE is a testament to the fact that a lot can be achieved with the support of the government. The study has also pointed out that by bringing piracy down in the UAE by 10 percentage points, the country could generate more than 667 new jobs and result in an additional US$ 357 million in contributions to the UAE’s GDP, which translates to 78.3 per cent growth in the economy. With the help of a 10-point reduction in its 34 percent software piracy rate, the IT sector could grow to nearly US $ 2.3 billion by 2009, creating new business opportunities for entrepreneurs and new jobs opportunities for its workers. Further piracy reductions would allow the IT sector to grow 75 per cent instead of the projected 68 per cent between 2004 and 2009.
Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman Middle East, Business Software Alliance, said, “The Middle East region is undergoing incredible transformation. The rapid growth in the region means that in 20 years, the majority of the population will be young and there will be a need to create more than 50 million jobs in the next 10 years, a staggering task which would require tough decision making and inspired leadership to change the fundamental sources of growth from oil to non-oil Sectors, from public, state-dominated to private, market-oriented activities; and from protected, import-substitution to competitive, export-oriented activities.”
“Intensifying trade and investment lies at the core of all three shifts and protection of Intellectual Property Rights is crucial for its realisation. IPR protection is a strategic tool in a nation’s economic and social development,” he added. “Over the years, Business Software Alliance has been spearheading public awareness campaigns related to issues concerning IPR in the IT sector in an effort to identify the challenges it pose and the remedial opportunities that lay at our disposal.”
“Consumers can play a vital role in curbing piracy in IT sector. What is required is to encourage a conscious decision not to purchase or use a pirated product,” says Holleyman. “This scenario creates a need for the industry to spread awareness and education among the public on various aspects of piracy, which is precisely what BSA has been so successfully doing over the years.”
Over the past two decades, Holleyman has been overseeing the BSA’s operations in over 85 countries. He is widely recognized for his work on policy-related issues affecting the technology industry including international copyright laws, cyber security, trade and electronic commerce. Under his leadership, BSA has anticipated new challenges associated with these dramatic advances, developing programs around the world that foster innovation, competition, free trade, cyber security and digital copyright protection.
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.
