Action taken against illegal use of software
KARACHI- Business Software Alliance (BSA) on October 31, 2002 said that software copyright infringement action has been taken against a textile manufacturing company located on West Wharf Road.
A statement by the BSA, a group of world leading computer companies who look after the affairs of illegal software operation and its commercial use in the companies said: “This follows many similar actions in the last 30 days that targeted companies using illegal or pirated software.”
Al Redha, Director, Middle East, of BSA, said that under the inspection orders issued by Sindh High Court, Nazir (Commissioner) of the Court, along with BSA members, inspected the company’s premises and found unlicensed software being used on its network of 40 computers.
The court has issued restraining orders, preventing the company from any further infringement of the software used by it or to destroy the evidence of such illegal use, Redha added.
The company, whose name has been withheld for legal reasons, was earlier warned by BSA to refrain from using pirated software on its computer network, but it continued to violate the copyright law, he added.
Al Redha said the illegal use of computer programmes puts the country’s software houses at risk of closure, cost the country in loss of tax revenues, discourages establishment of software houses and resultantly deprives the people of employment in one of the world’s biggest industries. It also leaves little money for research and development of advanced computer programmes.
“It is in this context that the BSA has pledged to crack down on companies who can afford to purchase legal software and who continue to flaunt copyright laws by using unlicensed software in the country,” he added.
He urged all the big companies to legalise their software to avoid penalties and damage to their reputation.
According to country’s copyright law, the violators may face a fine up to Rs 200,000, seizure of computers installed with illegal software and a prison sentence of up to three years.
He said, the BSA could call upon its global partners to offer software to home computer users, students, educational institutions and non-profit organisation in the country at very competitive prices, only if those business houses and companies who can afford to buy software at market prices do so.
“The implementation of intellectual property rights would also help Pakistan to create an Information Technology friendly atmosphere and attract more local as well as foreign investment in the software sector,” Al Redha opined.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:10/31/2002
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