Global piracy has jumped to biggest increase in four years, the Fifth Annual BSA and IDC Global Software Piracy Study said on Wednesday. The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, said it rose by three percentage points to 38 percent in 2007. BSA has emphasized that the rapid growth of the IT industry in countries with weak copyright enforcement and expanding internet access have largely contributed to the global trend. Despite the increasing prevalence of software piracy, the study also revealed that the GCC region has improved its anti-piracy performance through initiatives such as smart government policies, effective enforcement, end user customer education and vendor legalisation programs. The UAE has once again posted the best anti-piracy rating in the Gulf region. “The latest Global Software Piracy Study by BSA and IDC indicates that global piracy has increased largely because of the unprecedented growth of the IT industry in areas where there are no committed efforts to control piracy. The spread of internet has likewise contributed to the current situation as access to pirated software has moved from the streets to the internet,” said Jawad Al-Redha, co-chairman, BSA. “This situation underscores the need to sustain and even intensify our vigilance, as these threats will persist with the continued growth of the global IT industry, he Al-Redha in a statement. __
