Microsoft and its hardware partners has announced successful anti-piracy raids on two computer resellers in Dubai who were found downloading business software without authorization.
Microsoft and the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) coordinated with concerned authorities for the latest raids, which resulted in the confiscation of 70 counterfeit CDs and two desktop computers loaded with unlicensed versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2007 software. Following the raids, the accused have been charged with violation of the copyright law.
“Eliminating software piracy from the country is high on the agenda for the Ministry of Economy given the major negative impact piracy can have on the country’s growing economy. We will continue to work closely with the BSA and its members to curb software piracy across the UAE, and we are confident that our concerted efforts will bring in expected results,” said Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, MoE Undersecretary.
“The latest raids reaffirm the commitment of the UAE Government and the BSA to rid the country of the menace of software piracy, which can significantly dent economic progress. The BSA will continue with its wide-ranging anti-piracy campaigns in the UAE which will serve as a strong warning to intellectual property rights offenders, while also highlighting the detrimental affects of using pirated software to the end users,” said Jawad Al Redha, BSA Co-Chairman in the Gulf.
The recent BSA member-initiated effort is part of a broader ongoing campaign to remove unlicensed software programs in the UAE. The BSA and the UAE Government are confident that the frequent raids and ensuing action against offenders will effectively deter other local software resellers from engaging in similar illegal activities.
