Kuwait's Ministry of Information raids five computer companies using pirated software

The MoI recently confiscated five computers loaded with pirated software following a raid on five computer companies in Kuwait City.

The campaign is part of the Ministry's strategy to encourage the use of original software and thereby protect the intellectual property rights in Kuwait. The MoI is launching multiple initiatives which aim at raising public awareness about the laws and regulations of IPR which categorise the use and trade of pirated software as an illegal act.

Tarek Al Ajmi, Assistant Under Secretary for Press and Journalism Affairs, Ministry of Information Kuwait, said:

"The Ministry is committed to support the issue of IPR protection and will step up its efforts to limit the use and trade of illegal products, as we are fully aware of the negative impact of this practice on the national economy. Software piracy leads to an unbalanced economy and hampers the country's progress and growth. We are currently working on specific strategies to increase awareness about the detrimental effects of piracy on the nation."

Scott Butler, CEO AAA said: "We commend the efforts of the Kuwait Ministry of Information to protect intellectual property rights. The authorities have been effectively implementing the IPR laws and the latest raid was carried out after the companies concerned were monitored closely. The raid sends a strong message to the public about the importance of respecting the IPR laws."

"We are delighted to be part of the anti-piracy campaign, not only because we are fighting one of the most dangerous commercial crimes but also because this increases the trust of the international software developers in the country. These raids are a very effective tool to increase awareness that software piracy is illegal and that the Kuwait IPR law incriminates end-users too," he added.

Kuwait has been demonstrating its commitment to step-up its anti-piracy campaign and is considered one of the first countries in the region to adopt anti-piracy awareness campaigns. As a result of its firm actions against piracy, the average piracy rate has dropped in the recent years and software developers are increasingly gaining trust in the country. The increasing efforts of the government are expected to lead to a gradual decrease in the use and trade of pirated software in the country.