The authorities in the UAE have sent out a strong message to violators of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) by conducting more raids on companies and individuals involved in trading pirated software. In a recent raid on two software distribution companies in the country, the government confiscated four computers loaded with illegal versions of Windows XP, MS Office, AutoCad, Norton Anti Virus and 124 CDs of pirated software. Five persons were also arrested during the raid, on charges of IPR violation, Copyright infringement and Publishing laws.
The raid follows the release of the annual piracy report by Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world. The report indicates that the UAE has the lowest piracy rate in the MENA region and leads the way in the fight against pirated software.
Scott Butler, CEO, Arabian Anti-piracy Alliance (AAA), said, “The low piracy rates in the UAE clearly underlines the achievements of the government with regard to IPR protection. This successful raid conveys the government’s tough stand on IPR violators, including distributors of pirated software and end users, by not being lenient with offenders.”
The AAA is working closely with various authorities in the UAE that are involved with IPR protection, to raise awareness on the importance of using original software, as this will help in enhancing the reliability of IT infrastructure in the region. Further, the users of original software will get many benefits, including reliable IT support, continuous updates on the software and discounts on new versions of the software.
“The UAE has gained tremendously after implementing IPR laws strictly. The country is witnessing commendable growth in all economic sectors and the IT industry has been booming in the recent years, with several leading multinational IT companies investing heavily in the UAE to set up their facilities here. We highly appreciate the efforts of the UAE authorities for their sustained battle to curb the menace of software piracy, which has affirmed their commitment to create a digital economy,” added Butler.
The UAE is the leading country with regard to implementation of IPR and Copyright legislations, with laws requiring software users to keep evidence of the originality of the software used by them. This has not only benefited the entire business sector of the country, with top companies choosing UAE as a base for their regional headquarters, it has also contributed in propelling the growth of the nation’s economy in general and the IT sector in particular.
Business Software Alliance:
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is an international organization representing leading software and e-commerce developers in 65 countries around the world. Established in 1988, BSA has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. As the voice of the software industry, 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’s efforts include educating computer users about software copyrights; advocating public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fighting software piracy.
