Microsoft calls for govt, industry support to combat piracy

| Wednesday May 19, 2010 00:00

 

According to the seventh annual global software piracy study released today by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an international association representing the global software industry, in partnership with market research firm IDC, PC software piracy rates in Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe averaged 83% in 2009.

'While we see some signs that the technology industry's intensified anti-piracy education activities and enforcement actions in collaboration with local governments and law enforcement agencies are making a difference, we have watched software piracy rates decline by only one percent in the region over the past five years,' said Andrew Waititu, License Compliance Manager for Microsoft East & Southern Africa.

According to the study, both Kenya and Botswana's piracy rate fell from 80% in 2008 to 79% in 2009. Meanwhile, in Zambia and Zimbabwe, piracy rates stayed the same in 2009 and both countries remain among the top 25 economies with the highest piracy rates. With a piracy rate of 92%, Zimbabwe is second only to Georgia for the highest piracy rate in the world. Zambia ranks #21 on the global list, with a piracy rate of 82%.

'Due to the exponential growth of PC markets in emerging economies like Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe, we are seeing the worldwide piracy rate rise from 41% in 2008 to 43% in 2009,' said Dale Waterman, BSA Co-Chair, Middle East and Africa. 'This rise of unlicensed software in East and Southern Africa's markets limits local technology innovation, job creation and economic growth. Furthermore, piracy robs governments of vital tax revenues.'

IDC found that the total commercial value of unlicensed software in Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe totalled US$83 million in 2009. The value of stolen software in Kenya alone accounted for $66 million last year.

A recent IDC whitepaper sponsored by the BSA also reported that if Kenya reduced its piracy rate by just 10% over four years, it would create an additional 977 local IT jobs and contribute $73.60 million to Kenya's GDP. According to IDC, that represents an increase in total revenue for the local IT industry of $40.01 million and additional revenue for the government of $7.18 million in taxation.