The Ministry of Justice in Qatar announced that, in collaboration with Adobe Systems, it is stepping up efforts to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and further reduce software piracy in the country.

During the press conference held at Grand Hyatt, Doha, the Ministry revealed that it will continue with its strategy of creating greater awareness among resellers and end-users about the negative social and economic effects of piracy through a series of seminars, roundtables and events in association with software companies such as Adobe.

The strong government commitment to protect IPR in Qatar over the years has contributed to a significant reduction in software piracy rates in the last five years, it said.

Abdulla Ahmad Qayed, Intellectual Property Center director, Qatar Ministry of Justice, said: “The Government of Qatar has taken a firm stand against software piracy and violation of intellectual property rights.”

“The Ministry of Justice in particular has been strongly committed to tackling this issue by underlining the legal implications of IPR violations while also creating greater awareness about the detrimental effects of using pirated software.”

“Resellers and end-users in Qatar need to realise that high levels of software piracy and counterfeiting activity seriously harm a country’s innovation and ability to continuously produce intellectual property, which eventually reduces overall economic activity,” he added.

“We look forward to working closely with software companies such as Adobe to jointly execute high-impact initiatives to maximise the use of genuine software and further reduce piracy in Qatar, especially at a time when the country’s economy is witnessing robust growth.”

Naser Samaenah, head of Anti-Piracy and License Compliance, Adobe Systems Mena, said: “The Ministry of Justice has been leading the campaign against IPR violation in Qatar, which has reflected positively on the country’s software piracy rates over the last five years.”

“However, given the impact of software piracy on the economy, there is still much that needs to be done through the combined efforts of the government, software industry, resellers and end users.

“Adobe has been extending its support to the Ministry of Justice for the range of measures it has been undertaking to protect IPR, as we fully recognise the importance of supporting Qatar’s IT sector and thereby enabling the country to benefit from the major economic benefits of reducing software piracy,” he added.

Samaenah continued: “Studies have shown that a significant reduction in software piracy can generate millions of Riyals worth of additional revenue for the government, as well as new jobs and a range of investment opportunities in the IT and related industries.”

“Qatar’s intensified anti-piracy initiatives are certainly a step in the right direction, benefiting a broad section of society and making the country a more attractive destination for leading international IT companies,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service