�Pirated software users be aware�
Microsoft Bangladesh recently signed two memorandum of understandings with two leading technology associations of BangladeshAssociation of Software and Information Services (BASIS) and Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) for promoting genuine software of Microsoft. Sonia Bashir Kabir, the country director of Microsoft Bangladesh, had taken a zero tolerance on using pirated software, especially by the large corporations and offices. Under those MoUs, the two leading associations of the technology sector plan to work jointly to conceptualise and map out a government software legislation plan together with key government stakeholders. Over the past years, the copyright office published a series of newspaper advertisements to create awareness about the legal implications of selling pirated goods. Unfortunately, retailers ignored the government efforts to protect copyright in Bangladesh.
Finally, the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Task Force and Copyright officials have geared up to launch anti-piracy drive in the country. The action has recently started to bear fruit. In a recent drive have, the IPR Task Force recovered 69 laptops installed with pirated software of Microsoft from a local vendor and nabbed two persons in this connection from a retail outlet of the company located in Gulshan 1 area in the capital. Md Manzurur Rahman, convener of the IPR Task Force, said there have been numerous efforts by the government to warn and educate retailers, but to no avail. We are now embarking on action against the entities selling or dealing in pirated and unlicenced software, and want to remind companies that their pirated software business is infringement of copyright law.
Apart from the fact that piracy is illegal and impacts Bangladeshs ability to attract foreign direct investment, computer users are also put at risk when pirated software is sold to them, he said. Pirated software is known to contain dangerous malware, some of which allow hackers to steal personal information from computers. Barrister ABM Hamidul Mishbah, founder of Bangladesh Copyright and IP Forum, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promote IPR protection and enforcement
within Bangladesh, commented that the anti-piracy action is more significant for being the first software enforcement action in the country.
This clearly signals that Bangladesh is now ready to demonstrate to the world that we are a country that respects intellectual property and enforces the law to ensure and protect innovation, creativity and ideas in this country.
Lauding the latest initiative, Sonia Bashir Kabir, said, We applaud the Bangladesh Governments commitment to promoting intellectual property rights. This is a major milestone in Bangladeshs efforts to protect intellectual property and we encourage the government and police to continue to enforce intellectual property laws as this will only result in greater investor confidence and generate tax revenue and strengthen the overall infrastructure of the country, including cyber security, she said. The piracy trend is getting higher in Bangladesh despite a large-scale price reduction and big investment in the country, added Sonia. The Bangladesh Copyright Act 2000 is very comprehensive with regard to infringement of rights in computer programmes or software. Any person who infringes the copyright in computer programme, publishes, sells or distributes the same in more than one copy, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, not extending four years, or with fine. I think time has come to take more actions armed with this act, she observed. Courtesy: SD ASIA
