International studies and reports, recently quoted by Al-Ittihad newspaper, estimate the value of the piracy market in the Middle East at $2.5 billion. This includes counterfeit merchandise, commercial products and computer programs.
Although some of the states in the region are making serious efforts to control the spread of piracy, other states in the region use forged computer programs in their local ministries and agencies.
The Commercial Computer Program Producers Association estimated the value of the counterfeit computer programs used throughout the region last year at $245 million. In addition, the association positioned the Middle East and North Africa in second place in the world in terms of the computer programs piracy markets, following Asia.
According to Al-Ittihad, the operating American software companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lost $86.5 million in 1999, as a result of the computer program piracy prevailing in the local markets.
Market studies reported that over 78,000 computers in Saudi Arabia have been installed with counterfeit programs, which were copied in local homes. ¯ (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
