Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team Launched To Combat Software Piracy

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Optical Media Board and the
Philippine National Police (PNP), together with the Intellectual Property Coalition, have banded together
to launch the “Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team,” a campaign that aims to curb software piracy in the
Philippines.  The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the foremost organization promoting the use of
original and licensed software, is supporting the campaign.
At the launch, the five organizations signed a memorandum of understanding that spelled out the
objectives and action plans of the campaign.
OMB Chairman Eduardo Manzano said that this joint undertaking is part of the government’s efforts in
getting rid of piracy in the country.  “This is an all-out campaign against software piracy.  We want to show
that the government is determined to make the country piracy-free so that foreign investors will see the
Philippines as an attractive destination for their business, without any fear that their products will be
pirated,” said Manzano.
“Software piracy has continued to be a big threat to the growth of the local Information and
Communications sector.  It has also been causing billions of lost revenue to our economy.  We hope that
through this effort, there will be a significant reduction in the Philippines’ software piracy rate and increase
in awareness and respect for intellectual property rights so that our economy can move forward faster. 
Lost revenues in taxes due to piracy could have been used to fund basic services such as education,
health and infrastructure,” Manzano added.
The Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team started with a 30-day countdown that began on August 16 and will end on
September 15.   It will be followed by a crackdown phase in which a series of raids against software
copyright violators will be conducted nationwide.  Companies are expected to correct license misuse
before the crackdown begins.
NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco called on companies to make sure they are only using licensed software. 
He said: “The NBI is pleased to work with the OMB and the PNP for this campaign.  We hope that
businesses will heed our call. Legalize your unlicensed software now before the crackdown begins. Do
not put your company at risk by using unlicensed software.”
PNP Police Director General Arturo Lomibao echoed Dir. Wycoco’s call and also called on distributors
and computer resellers to stop selling pirated software.  “We are one with the NBI and OMB in going after
software pirates.  Piracy is stealing and against the law.  Dishonest vendors who are caught selling
pirated software not only face risk of paying hefty fines but also imprisonment,” Lomibao said.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector, IP Coalition Chairman John Lesaca said: “Both the Government
and legitimate businesses continue to be adversely affected by piracy, particularly in terms of lost income
and tax revenues.  This collaboration can count on the full support of the private sector. We hope this new
initiative will further strengthen efforts to respect intellectual property rights in software as well as the
other industries.”
  
A recent study conducted by the IDC for BSA placed the Philippines’ software piracy rate at 71% with
losses amounting to P3.7 billion in 2004.  Software piracy exists in many forms including corporate end-
user piracy, hard disk loading, retail CD-ROM piracy and Internet piracy.  The most noticeable among
these is the sale of counterfeit CD-ROMs in retail outlets.   However, software piracy has remained
rampant amongst corporate end-users - this occurs when businesses utilize more copies of software than
it has licenses for.
Jeffrey Hardee, BSA Vice President and Regional Director for Asia, said that among the types of software
piracy, corporate end-user piracy is the most damaging to the BSA. “A lot of businesses continue to use
software without proper licenses.   The BSA has been conducting seminars on Software Asset
Management (SAM) to help companies realize the value of their IT investment. The adoption of a model
SAM practice also minimizes software license misuse,” added Hardee.
The BSA lauded the government for taking the lead in going after violators of software copyright.  “We are
proud to support this government-driven campaign against the use of pirated and unlicensed software. 
We laud the agencies leading this initiative for recognizing the need to reduce, and consequently
eliminate piracy,” said Hardee.
Manzano, on behalf of the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team, acknowledged the support of the BSA in their
campaign.  “The support of BSA is very much appreciated and also serves as an example of the
government and the private sector working together to fight piracy and help improve the country’s
economy,” said Manzano.
Individuals who wish to report software piracy cases may get in touch with the BSA through its anti-piracy
hotlines at 819-5897 for Metro Manila residents and the toll-free 1-800-1-888-8787 for those residing
outside Metro Manila.  BSA gives a reward of up to P1 million for reports on companies using unlicensed
software.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe
and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware
partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the
fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and
policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA worldwide
members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam,
Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, McAfee, Microsoft, PTC, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, The
MathWorks, UGS and VERITAS Software. BSA regional members in Asia include Minitab and Trend
Micro.  In the Philipp
SOURCE: www.adobe.ph