South Africans are becoming more proactive in the fight against software piracy.
That's according to recently released statistics from BSA | The Software Alliance, which notes that reports to the BSA of suspected software piracy climbed by 44% in 2013 compared to 2012.
The dramatic rise in whistleblowing may suggest that the public is no longer prepared to stand by idly and watch businesses flout copyright laws.
Last month, software giant Microsoft revealed that its fight against software piracy in SA was making progress, thanks to increased consumer awareness and collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks).
"Reporting the use of unlicensed software is a cultural shift that may tap into the public's concerns around the universal problem of corruption," says Darren Olivier, partner at law firm Adams and Adams and legal advisor to BSA. "BSA received 395 leads in South Africa during 2013 which resulted in 32% more companies converting their illegal software into properly compliant products than in 2012."
The BSA numbers for the last year show that getting away with pirated software is becoming more difficult and more expensive. South African businesses forked out more than R4.7 million in damages and the acquisition of legal software in 2013.
Across Europe, Middle East and Africa, the use of pirated software cost businesses in excess of R155 million, the BSA says.
"Using properly licensed software reduces risk and creates operating efficiencies that go directly to the bottom line for enterprises," says Marius Haman, chairman of the BSA South Africa committee.
In an earlier report, BSA revealed that increasing the use of properly licensed software would have a greater impact on the economy than if there were similar growth in the use of pirated software.
It noted that a 1% increase in the use of licensed software would generate an estimated R2 billion ($245 million) in national production, compared to almost R1 billion ($123 million) from a similar increase in the use of pirated software.
Legal software is a strategic asset for organisations of all sizes - helping them make products, deliver services, run internal operations and participate in a global marketplace, it notes, adding that it creates operating efficiencies that enhance productivity and facilitates communication within companies and between companies and customers. This allows the business to become more agile and to better exploit market opportunities.
"Legally licensed software provides access to upgrades, patches and manufacturer support in the form of technical support and problem resolution. This is of vital importance to reduce exposure to viruses and other security vulnerabilities," Olivier explains. "Research undertaken for BSA by Instead, one of the world's most prominent business schools reveals that properly licensed software in a national market corresponds to substantial positive gains in gross domestic product."
According to BSA, manufacturing, sales and distribution and the service industry were SA's software piracy top offenders of 2013.
BSA encourages reports of suspected software piracy, whether regarding businesses using unlicensed software, or individuals and organisations selling pirated software over the Internet.
It points out that confidential reports can be made at www.bsa.org. A range of information and free tools are available on the BSA Web site to help businesses better understand and manage their licensing requirements and stay compliant.
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