Microsoft Gulf and Qatar's Ministry of Economy carry out raids against illegal retailers

In its capacity as a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the leading global organization established by the business software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, Microsoft provided vital leads to Qatar law enforcement agents, which resulted in the subsequent raids on the two establishments.

The raids resulted in the confiscation of two personal computers loaded with illegal copies of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office.

In addition, some 100 CDs containing pirated copies of installation software for various BSA member programs were seized during the raids.

Abdulla Ahmed Qayed, Head of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Office-Commercial Affairs Department, Ministry of Economy in Qatar, said,

"The Ministry remains actively involved in protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining the integrity of the country's IT industry. In view of this, we continue to cooperate with the BSA and Microsoft in various anti-piracy campaigns, which include these highly successful raids on two illegal resellers. Piracy is a national concern, as the business implications of this illegal trade can be hugely detrimental to the national economy; this is why we are fully committed to implement measures to eradicate it."

"Our intensified joint campaigns have yielded very positive results, particularly after the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the BSA and the Ministry. We will continue our collaborative efforts with the Ministry and the rest of our partners in Qatar, particularly the major stakeholders of the country's IT industry. We believe this will contribute meaningfully in consolidating the IT industry and subsequently the national economy of Qatar," said Jawad Al Redha, BSA Co-Chairman in the Middle East.

Qatar has been one of the regional leaders in the fight against piracy; it holds one of the Gulf's top performance ratings in the fight against piracy, which the country has sustained despite the enormous growth of its IT sector and the corresponding increased threats from piracy syndicates.

In a recent Madar Research report, Qatar's IT infrastructure was even recognised as the best in the Middle East based on the World Bank Knowledge Economy Index.

Microsoft has leveraged its partnership with the BSA and the Qatari government, as well as its extensive network of partners in the private sector, to initiate various raids in Qatar and other countries in the Gulf.

The series of raids are part of Microsoft's intensified strategy against software piracy in the GCC, which it considers as one of its most important high-growth markets.