Microsoft Brunei today announced that the company has launched an
anti-piracy campaign in Brunei, aimed at curbing illegal distribution of
Microsoft® Office software, and Microsoft Windows®. . The initiative was kicked
off at an event at the Radisson Hotel with an awareness session for local
resellers and retailers on the risks of malware and cybersecurity due to
pirated software.
This
initiative is part of the continuous effort to educate both retailers and
consumers about the risks associated with pirated software as well as the use
of aging technology. In the 2013 Global Software Survey conducted by
International Data Corporation (IDC), released in May 2014, the piracy rate in
Brunei recorded at 66%. We recognize there has been 1 point drop since the last
survey, and congratulate the various agencies who have taken initiatives to
increase public awareness. However, the piracy rate in Brunei is still very
high, affecting future ICT businesses, new innovations and the economy at large
in Brunei.
The
primary goal of this anti-piracy campaign is to curtail illegal hard disk
loading of software and illegal Microsoft Office suites in Brunei’s retailers
through education and one-on-one meetings with vendors. “This form of piracy
competes directly with legitimate software retailers” said Dyg Haniza Zakariya,
Country Manager at Microsoft Brunei.
“Our
goal is to level the playing field by reducing piracy and supporting the
efforts of honest retailers who distribute genuine Microsoft products” she
added. Microsoft is also calling the Brunei government to design more punitive
copyright laws to support the future knowledge economy, in line with the
country’s aspiration for more local IP creation. She further elaborated
“Software piracy is unfair play that ultimately hurts us all. Economic growth
in Brunei is thwarted by piracy – pirated software doesn’t create jobs for
students, developers, or Information Technology professionals.
Microsoft’s
investigation of computer resellers suspected of software piracy in Brunei was
based on leads obtained from a variety of sources, including a local survey
through a ‘mystery shopper’ conducted in September 2014. From the survey of 27
local ICT retail companies including their branches, about 81% of the companies
are still offering elements of piracy, either immediately or when prompted,
made an offer to sell and install pirated software. During the event, Microsoft
take the opportunity to reward two local retailers who have demonstrated best
genuine behaviour and practice by displaying, promoting and selling both
Microsoft operating systems and Microsoft Office at their retail shops. The two
retailers appointed as 2014/2015 Genuine Microsoft Resellers are Concepts
Commercial Suppliers (Well-known as CONCEPTS COMPUTER) and Elite Computer
Systems Sdn Bhd.
In the
same vein, Microsoft APAC Corporate Attorney, Mr Jonathan Selvasegaram who
co-presented on cyber security during the launch said “More critical, the US
Federal Bureau of Investigation warns for the threat of malware-induced
cyber-attacks. Criminal syndicates that are often behind
the sale of pirated software, use infected computers to launch attacks against
entire networks. These spread through shared connections to a home, business,
or even government networks – crippling economies and endangering intellectual
property.
The
next wave of this anti-piracy campaign will be through real purchases of
several units of computers and software from those retailers that failed the
initial checks and will be followed by police reports if evidence is found of
pirated software being sold openly.
“For
more information on security and piracy related, please contact Microsoft
Brunei at msbrunei@microsoft.com.
