Johannesburg, 23 May 2011
Strong intellectual property (IP) protection is central to instilling a culture of innovation, which can spur economic growth, create jobs and increase revenue for the broader industry and governments.
This is according to Microsoft SA, which recently joined forces with the World Intellectual Property Organisation to highlight the benefits of using genuine software and stronger protection on IP innovation.
The software giant believes the global arena needs stronger IP protections in place to safeguard the industry's ability to innovate, level the playing field for small businesses, and help governments generate tax revenue through the legitimate sale and trade of genuine software.
Microsoft SA's anti-piracy lead, Charl Everton, says in addition to strengthening the economy, sound IP policies can help reduce software piracy and counterfeiting, “which threaten legitimate businesses and expose consumers to the risks that come from using non-genuine software.”
She points out that software piracy and counterfeiting tend to thrive in places with weak IP protection, and this has an enormous and negative impact on the global economy.
“What we need to do in SA is lead by example when using original products; and while policies are in place, we need to play a strong role in supporting enforcement bodies to bring the culprits to justice.
“Cross-border cooperation and the promotion of public and private partnerships will increase capacity and awareness about counterfeit goods and IP rights,” she adds.
Piracy explosion
According to a study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce in 2011, the global economic and social impacts of counterfeiting and piracy will reach $1.7 trillion by 2015 and put 2.5 million legitimate jobs at risk each year.
Conversely, the economic rewards for countries that strengthen IP protection and reduce piracy are substantial, the study determined.
According to an economic study by the Business Software Alliance, a reduction in the worldwide piracy rate by 10% points in four years would create $142 billion in new economic activity and add nearly 500 000 new hi-tech jobs around the world.
Microsoft is also involved in Operation ThengaEyakho, a pilot campaign run jointly with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
Operation ThengaEyakho is focused on IP rights and software-specific anti-piracy messaging. The campaign is aimed at driving awareness and education among universities, high schools, small businesses, and the public, and includes law enforcement capacity building.
CIPC director of education and awareness, Mkhuseli Vimba, says Operation ThengaEyakho aims to encourage people to be original and buy original products. “This partnership with Microsoft is a step in the right direction in fighting piracy and helping these groups to better understand their intellectual property rights and those of others,” he adds.
The Department of Trade and Industry provided an overview of the Counterfeit Goods Act; put in place the Copyright Act to protect intellectual property; and pinpointed the challenges in enforcing these regulations due to capacity and the need for training.
It was revealed the total value of counterfeit goods seized in SA in the last financial year amounted to over R696 million.
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