The Kuwaiti authorities have intensified their campaign against companies and people trading or using illegal software. The Ministry of Information recently carried out a raid on four companies and seized several PCs and CDs loaded with pirated software.
These raids were a part of joint efforts exerted by Kuwait in association with IT companies that produce software and Business Software Alliance (BSA), aimed at combating software piracy in Kuwait.
According to the results of the eighth global study done by BSA, software piracy in Kuwait came down to 73 percent in 2002 from 91 percent in 1994. The study has urged Kuwait to adopt more stringent strategies and intensify its investigations against law breakers by implement the copyright and intellectual property laws more forcefully.
According to the study, the implementation of the copyright laws was still weak in Kuwait, because violators were not being given stiffer penalties like jail terms, as means of deterring others from indulging in anti piracy practices, the study adds.
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. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
