BSA lauds creation of inter-agency piracy body
By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:51:00 07/19/2008
Filed Under: Patents, Copyright & Trademarks
MANILA, Philippines -- The Business Software Alliance (BSA) praised recent anti-piracy efforts by the government but noted that the current piracy rate has seen little improvement.
Executive Order 736 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR), an inter-agency body headed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Jeffrey Hardee, BSA Asia Pacific regional director, commended the Philippine government's "resolute" action.
"While the PC software piracy rate in the Philippines has been reduced from 71 percent in 2006 to 69 percent last year, this rate is still much too high and continues to prove to be a disincentive to attracting investments in various industries where strong IPR protection is a prerequisite," Hardee said in a BSA statement.
BSA represents major software firms like Microsoft and Adobe. In 2005, BSA signed an agreement with the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) led by enforcement bodies consisting of the NBI, OMB and PNP.
The PAPT has since conducted more than 100 raids in the country resulting in the seizure of hardware and other equipment valued at P250 million. In the Philippines, software piracy is punishable by up to nine years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to P1.5 million.
BSA also offers rewards of up to a million pesos to anyone who provides information leading to a successful action and prosecution against a business establishment using unlicensed and pirated software.
The NCIPR also includes the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Optical Media Board (OMB), National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
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