BSA says software piracy drops by 5 points in Morocco

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) said the piracy rate in Morocco lost 5 points between 1999 and 2000, from 65% to 60% while worldwide the rate has progressed by 1 point to reach 37%.

Head of the copyright department at Microsoft North Africa, Samir Bennani, said the awareness campaign conducted in Morocco, and the publication of sanctions and legal prosecution yielded the expected results. However, he went on, the company will not stop its campaign. After distributors and retailers of computer equipment, it will now target the final users.

He said 15 private companies have already been informed of the laws that protect softwares and urged to obtain legal licenses while for cybercafes, an adapted solution is under study.

He went on that the campaign is supported by perks to encourage enterprises conform to the copyright laws and renounce using pirated softwares.

Losses induced by piracy which affects 60% of all software used are estimated at US$ 6.04 million.