Microsoft Gulf recently teamed up with Kuwait ministry of commerce and industry on a raid against local computer reseller in possession of unlicensed software as part of its campaign against the proliferation of illegal software.

Microsoft Gulf once again notched a major victory in its anti-piracy raid  in Hawalli, Kuwait with the backing of Business Software Alliance (BSA) and confiscated 400 compact discs and two hard discs loaded with unlicensed software.

BSA is a leading global organisation that is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners.

As a member of BSA, Microsoft Gulf has been spearheading local efforts to obtain information on sellers of illegal software that can be used by Kuwaiti authorities to effect seizures and arrests.

Microsoft’s assistance had recently led to the seizure of laptops containing illegal copies of various software titles; also in the Hawalli area, said a government official.

“We believe that our recent series of raids will show illegal traders that we are going all-out in ensuring that our growing IT sector will not be compromised by their activities,' said Rasha Al-Sabah, intellectual property rights manager, Kuwait.

'The proactive participation with the private sector in flushing out piracy remains high on our agenda, and we appreciate Microsoft Gulf in particular for their resolve in helping us eradicate this social and economic threat. We are currently evaluating even more leads that will bring us closer to our goal of attaining a piracy-free environment,' he noted.

Kuwait currently honours a MoU with the BSA on the deployment of an intensive anti-piracy advertising and media campaign. The agreement will enhance public dissemination on the negative effects of violations against intellectual property rights and will showcase Kuwait as an emerging regional and global IT hub.

“We still have a long way to go to reduce software piracy in Kuwait, but we have made significant strides. The huge economic losses incurred by Kuwait due to this high level of piracy is a sufficient reason for us to highlight the risks and support the apprehension of offenders,' pointed out Jawad Al Redha, BSA co-chairman in the Middle East.

'The government or industry cannot battle this menace independently. We need a unified, sustained stance if we want to ensure a safer, more productive future for Kuwait’s IT industry in general and software sector in particular.'

'Our relationship with the Kuwaiti government has been very positive. We want to thank the Ministry of Information and other concerned authorities for their ongoing support,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service