UAE Ministry of Economy and Business Software Alliance launch "Using unlicensed software can shut down your business" campaign

The month-long campaign, which ran from May 4 to June 10, 2008, also aimed to spread awareness about intellectual property rights (IPR) laws and the legal consequences of using and selling pirated and illegal software. The anti-piracy drive also highlighted the negative impact of piracy to all members of society, particularly in terms of lost jobs, declining tax revenues and a less competitive economy.

"This comprehensive campaign included all media outlets in the UAE because we wanted to reach out to as many individuals and organisations as possible," noted H.E. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, Undersecretary, MoE. "This is an excellent platform to complement the UAE's stringent anti-piracy policies."

According to the Fifth Annual BSA and IDC Global Software Piracy Study released in May 2008, the UAE has the lowest piracy rate in the Gulf region at 35 per cent.

Jawad Al Redha, BSA Co-Chairman for the Gulf commented:

"Through this campaign, we intend to deliver the message that using unlicensed software can lead to severe consequences, including the possibility of the closure of a business for a limited period of time. Additionally, using pirated or counterfeit software can compromise the integrity of the IT network, may result in long-term damage to reputation and additional financial costs to the business."

"Another important component of the anti-piracy campaign was to deliver strong and consistent legalisation messages in key markets across the Gulf, aimed at promoting a legal and safe digital business environment and helping reap the benefits of a piracy-free society," added Al Redha.

Other activities to be held as part of the campaign include a number of criminal complaints to be submitted by BSA members against illegal resellers within the next two months.

The awareness campaign also seeks to enlighten the public on the possible consequences faced by the management of offending businesses. According to the UAE Federal Law No.7 of 2002 concerning copyrights, management representatives of organisations that use illegal software can also face criminal prosecution.