Microsofts antipiracy manager for eastern and southern africa, abed hlatshwayo, said that the region was awash in illegal software worth more. Because of the money lost to pirates, publishers have fewer resources to devote to research and development of new products, have less revenue to justify lowering software prices and are forced to pass these costs on to their customers. Dec 01, 2011 i heard details on one of the radio channels a couple of weeks ago and fines as high as kes. In kenya, the three methods most frequently used by the cybercriminals in 2012 were keylogging software spyware, password theft, and atm piracy.
Kenya is losing the war on software piracy due to low consumer willingness to pay for legal applications and shrinking government interest in the battle. Lusaka musician chris aka in a protest against piracy. Software piracy is considered direct infringement when it denies holders due compensation for use of their creative works. Aug 30, 2008 microsoft east africa announced a 40 percent reduction in cost of its home and student office suite amid complaints of rampant software piracy in the kenya. Business software alliance settles software piracy case. Software piracy equates to stealing and is an unethical business practice that can result in civil and criminal penalties. This can be done by copying, downloading, sharing, selling, or installing multiple copies onto personal or work computers. I nsufficient cyber security policies and high levels of pirated software use are key factors holding back kenya in its fight against cybercrime this is according to a managing director of software antivirus firm eset in kenya, geoffrey ombachi, who says his firm has joined in the fight against cybercrime in the country. Even among some of the many enterprise clients, the fear of law enforcement is the primary motivation to use genuine software. Why you should not download pirated software in south africa. Jul 04, 2012 autodesk, a leading 3d software manufacturer for design, engineering, media and entertainment, joined microsoft, adobe and other multinational software developers who have been tracking down institutions that use pirated software in kenya. Apr 17, 2019 the downloading and distribution of pirated software is a global phenomenon, but it is particularly prevalent in african countries such as botswana, kenya, and south africa. Software piracy is the unauthorized copying or distribution of ed software by downloading. Piracy, lack of cyber security policy drives kenyan.
Out of this number, 49 of the raids were focused on music piracy. Software piracy endemic in africa iol business report. According to the latest business software alliance bsa 20102011 report, the level of software piracy in kenya has dropped since 2007 from 83% to 79%. Kenya losing battle against software piracy business daily. Sep 14, 2015 according to kecobo more than 70 anti piracy raids have been successfully conducted throughout kenya since 2014 todate.
It assesses the best governance tools in the fight against piracy and upholding of intellectual. Safaricom makes colossal 86% of total telecom revenue in kenya. Microsoft, partners in new initiative to curb software piracy in africa december 11, 2019 admin csr, news 0 microsoft has launched the windows pc affordability in africa initiative, a programme that aims to reduce the prevalence of microsoft software piracy in africas emerging markets. No one seems to think it is a crime to use pirated software, as long as you are not caught. Fighting piracy and microsofts clean network microsoft south africas main approach to limiting piracy is a combination of enforcement and education, both in the channel and with consumers. Microsoft reduces office price to combat kenyan piracy cio. Contact us if you have any questions or want to report software piracy by phone call 18003887478. How kenya invited and hosted somali pirates willis oketch 24th may 2015 12. Microsoft fights piracy with price dropin kenya pcworld. Software piracy takes a heavy toll on east african businesses. How can i confirm that youve received my software piracy report. Despite assurances from chinas president, just about any software can be found on beijings streets.
Piracy, and intellectual property in general, is a contentious issue between developed states and the rest of the world. Software piracy rates in kenya are thought to be as a high as 80%. Microsoft, partners in new initiative to curb software piracy. May 01, 2012 kenyas judiciary does not deliberate many software and ip cases and the country remains lax in terms of piracy with domestic uses of pirated software being allowed, but companies being liable for piracy if software installed on office computers or used for official purposes. The president of the republic of kenya on 14 th january 2020 directed the ministry of information communications and technology ict to work with all the industry stakeholders with the aim streamlining and solving the legacy challenges in the music industry through the use of ict by creating a national. Kenya fighting software piracy it news africa up to. It assesses the best governance tools in the fight against piracy and. This article integrates previously missing components of government quality into the governancepiracy nexus in exploring governance mechanisms by which global obligations for the treatment of iprs are effectively transmitted from international to the national level in the battle against piracy. Kenyas board and microsoft are working together to offer a brief amnesty period in order to end software piracy. Microsoft, partners in new initiative to curb software.
Autodesk joins war against software piracy in kenya. It has been estimated that up to 80% of all software in use in the east african region is illegal, a level that is. The software piracy rate reports the proportion of installed software that is pirated. Welcome to kenya copyright board kenya copyright board. Dec 02, 20 software piracy equates to stealing and is an unethical business practice that can result in civil and criminal penalties. Security africa kenya cyber security cybercrime eset software piracy. Oct 30, 2012 software piracy is the stealing of legally protected software. Kenya website experts ltd knowledgebase online piracy. Most of this software ends up on african markets because of the high cost of buying the original versions. Organisations should have network policies in place which restrict access to peertopeer file sharing networks that allow anyone to download pirated copies of software, music or movies. It seems that illegal software is available anywhere, to anyone, at any time. While software piracy is a crime in kenya, it is also socially acceptable. The board has embarked on an intensive campaign to put software piracy out of business through a series of sustained raids on suspected resellers of counterfeit software.
Copyrights, royalties and music piracy in kenya music in. Software piracy on the rise in africa biznis africa. According to piracy statistics released by the business software alliance for 2012, kenyas piracy rate stands at 79%. Recent news reports, however, said kenya was losing the war on software piracy due to low consumer willingness to pay for legal applications and. Microsoft reduces office price to combat kenyan piracy.
Microsoft is delighted, as are local software developers, that kenyan authorities are committed to defending their s as. When one person buys a legally licensed piece of software and then allows more friends, business colleagues and family to copy the application than he or she has licenses for. If youd like confirmation of bsa having received your report, please call our antipiracy hotline at 1. Microsoft, partners in new initiative to curb software piracy in africa december 11, 2019 admin csr, news 0 microsoft has launched the windows pc affordability in africa initiative, a programme that aims to reduce the prevalence of microsoft software piracy in. Dec 27, 2019 while software piracy is a crime in kenya, it is also socially acceptable. Jan 10, 20 this article integrates previously missing components of government quality into the governance piracy nexus in exploring governance mechanisms by which global obligations for the treatment of iprs are effectively transmitted from international to the national level in the battle against piracy. Business software alliance and idc study shows software. Autodesk, a leading 3d software manufacturer for design, engineering, media and entertainment, joined microsoft, adobe and other multinational software developers who have been tracking down institutions that use pirated software in kenya. Software piracy is increasingly stifling economic growth in kenya today, the boards acting executive director edward sigei told the business daily. The rampant use of nongenuine software is denying the country an opportunity to derive gains from licensed software, which has shown greater return on investment elsewhere in the world, said edward sigei the kecobo acting director. Advantages of a ssl certificates for a small business website. Microsoft gets tough about software piracy in kenya with. Amnesty campaign launched to fight software piracy in kenya.
Types of software piracy stanford computer science. Because of the money lost to pirates, publishers have fewer resources to devote to research and development of new products, have less revenue to justify lowering software prices and are forced to pass. Software piracy takes a toll on east african businesses. The rampant use of nongenuine software is denying the country an opportunity to derive gains from licensed software, which has shown greater return on. Recent news reports, however, said kenya was losing the war on software piracy due to low consumer willingness to pay for legal applications and a shrinking government interest in the battle. Microsoft east africa announced a 40 percent reduction in cost of its home and student office suite amid complaints of rampant software piracy in the kenya. Judge awards microsoft usd 416,000 in software piracy. It takes into account both commercial and opensource programs. From warez shopping malls in asia, to the unscrupulous computer systems retailers a few blocks down the street, pirated programs are sold for a pittance. Software piracy takes a toll on east african businesses it. Under law, software piracy occurs when protected software is copied, distributed, modified or sold. The president of the republic of kenya on 14 th january 2020 directed the ministry of information communications and technology ict to work with all the industry stakeholders with the aim streamlining and solving the legacy challenges in the music industry. Kenya fighting software piracy it news africa up to date.
Software piracy is the unauthorised copying or distribution of ed software. May 20, 2010 pc software piracy rates in botswana, kenya, zambia and zimbabwe averaged 83% last year 2009. Software piracy is the stealing of legally protected software. Microsoft gives one month amnesty to software pirates in kenya. Judge awards microsoft usd 416,000 in software piracy case in kenya. Software firms in the country have lost a cumulative sh12. Software piracy rates in kenya are thought to be as a high as 80, a recent report by authorities. Oct 03, 2016 software piracy rates in kenya are thought to be as a high as 80%. Kenyas software piracy rate fell by onepercentage point last year to settle at 79percent according to the seventh annual global software piracy study released by the business software alliance bsa, an international association representing the global software industry, in partnership with market research firm international data corporationidc. Nov 10, 2011 according to the latest business software alliance bsa 20102011 report, the level of software piracy in kenya has dropped since 2007 from 83% to 79%. It is illegal, increases security risks and results in economic harm such as loss of jobs and tax revenue.
However with the global average piracy levels at 42%, there is a lot that needs to be done both in awareness and enforcement through existing as well as new publicprivate partnerships. Microsoft offers amnesty to end software piracy filehippo news. Kenya s board and microsoft are working together to offer a brief amnesty period in order to end software piracy. Corporate enduser piracy occurs when software is installed on an organizations computers without the proper licenses from the software publisher. Said louis otieno, country manager, microsoft east africa. Software piracy is a serious problem that has a huge impact on people in kenya, said antipiracy manager for microsoft in west, east and central africa lawrence kinyanjui.
The downloading and distribution of pirated software is a global phenomenon, but it is particularly prevalent in african countries such as botswana, kenya, and south africa. Apr 06, 2016 software firms in the country have lost a cumulative sh12. Other types of pirated works in kenya include, books, software and broadcasts. Autodesk joins war against software piracy in kenya nairobi. The 30day amnesty is a response to the growing threat of software piracy to kenyas economy a crime which resulted in an estimated loss of 85 million dollars for the country last year. Software piracy is increasingly stifling economic growth in kenya today. The combination of market contraction and lower prices resulted in a slight reduction in the dollar losses due to piracy. I heard details on one of the radio channels a couple of weeks ago and fines as high as kes. Piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime insecurity in. In the kenyan market alone, microsoft estimates the proportion of pirated software to be 78% with a commercial value of 12 billion kenyan shillings about 120 million dollars. To curb the vice and encourage the uptake of genuine software, kecobo has partnered with technology giant microsoft in a monthlong amnesty for. Consequences of software piracy the losses suffered as a result of software piracy directly affect the profitability of the software industry. According to kecobo more than 70 antipiracy raids have been successfully conducted throughout kenya since 2014 todate.
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