Business Software Alliance (BSA), the foremost organisation dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, has once again succeeded in keeping GITEX Shopper, the retail arm of Gitex Dubai 2005, piracy-free through stringent monitoring and high visibility campaigns involving distribution of leaflets and flyers on Intellectual Property Rights.
This is the fourth consecutive year in which BSA succeeded in keeping GITEX Shopper free of trading in pirated software. The achievement has been hailed by the organisers, government authorities and the IT industry in general.
Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, Middle East, Business Software Alliance (BSA) said: “GITEX Shopper has been growing in size each year, making it very challenging for BSA to monitor the activities of all participating traders. Despite these challenges, our teams not only succeeded in keeping pirated software out of the exhibition, but also managed to bring into focus the role played by BSA in piracy control. This achievement was made possible through the cooperation of the organisers and, most importantly, the visitors, who responded positively to issues concerning IPR.”
BSA undertook a series of initiatives at GITEX Shopper 2005, aimed at educating the visitors, partners, resellers and end users on issues relating to IPR and the benefits of using original software. An online quiz conducted at the BSA stand attracted a large number of participants, helping raise awareness about the detrimental effects of piracy on the national as well as the international level. In addition, BSA distributed flyers and booklets which contained information about issues relating to IPR and offered practical tips and resources for better software management. The BSA posters at GITEX Shopper were very creative and carried direct messages targeting visitors of all ages.
BSA also worked with the organisers of GITEX Shopper 2005 to ensure that the software sold by exhibitors at the event were original. To facilitate this task, BSA had formed a watchdog committee to monitor the sale and usage of software during the show and prevent any illegal trading activity.
“BSA teams kept strict vigil on the products and solutions sold at GITEX Shopper by mingling with ordinary shoppers. This enabled us to get a first-hand feel of the shopper’s preferences and also the attitude of traders,” said Al Redha. “We were able to get a better understanding of the consumer’s likes and dislikes, and we will be able to pass on some vital information to our members to help them improve product quality and service.”
Al Redha commended the organisers for the systematic manner in which they facilitated the movement of shoppers, and thanked them for allowing BSA to carry out its mission of stopping the peddling of pirated software.
“Our success in keeping Gitex Shopper piracy-free year after year also reflects the tough stand taken by the UAE authorities in combating malpractices in software. Today, UAE figures at the top of the list among Gulf countries that have achieved the most impressive results in the area of piracy control. We hope other countries in the region will draw inspiration from the UAE and adopt measures that will help them boost their IT industry and consequently the national economy by controlling piracy,” said Al Redha.
