India's software piracy causes loss of Rs 900 crore annually & NASSCOM

["Soumyanath Chaterjee" <soumya@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some thoughts on NASSCOM:

Does any body knows what is their objective?

> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > What about the non-piracy losses. I mean looses for
> > >
> > > - Using product for which cheap or free alternatives available
> > >   (E.g. Linux  and other product)
> > > - Using hugely bloated software where a much simpler software could
have
> > > been sufficient
> > >   (Even now many offices in USA uses Wordstar and DOS but not in India
> !!!)
> > > - Artificially jacking up product pricing where the same is available
at
> > > much cheaper price.
> > >   (A case in point Delphi - At USA $199 at India Rs. 35,000/-)
> > > - In USA/Abroad computer hardware and software is available free of
cost
> as
> > > test product/beta version etc. Has our learned friends of NASSCOM
tried
> to
> > > move even a micron in that direction ?
> > >
> > > At times it surprises me do our so called organization speak for the
> country
> > > for  some corporation ?
> > >
> > > Disclaimer: These views are entirely my personal.
> > > ---
> > >  Soumyanath Chatterjee
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Frederick Noronha <fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: linux-india-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > <linux-india-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 4:41 AM
> > > Subject: [LIG] COMMENT: India's software piracy causes loss of Rs 900
> crore
> > > annually
> > >
> > >
> > > >Below is a very interesting news-item. The arguments (and the stand
> > > >taken) have implications for all of us who would like to see
> > > >free-shareable Linux grow. How would the others on the list respond
to
> > > >arguments explicitly stated or implied, such as:
> > > >1. Piracy "losses" in India exceed Rs 900 crore.
> > > >2. Continuing piracy means higher prices for the consumer
> > > >3. Piracy means less publisher revenue to invest in new products
> > > >4. "Thousands" of jobs are lost since proprietary s/w is not
purchased
> > > >
> > > >INDIA'S SOFTWARE PIRACY CAUSES LOSS OF RS 900 CRORE ANNUALLY
> > > >
> > > >UNITED NEWS OF INDIA, New Delhi, Dec 3 (Indian Express, Dec 4)
> > > >
> > > >TWO IN THREE software programs in India are stolen and the software
> > > >piracy is causing an annual loss of more than Rs 900 crore in the
> > > >country.
> > > >
> > > >These software programs are stolen either through hard-disk loading
or
> > > >counterfeiting, according to Dewang Mehta, president, National
> > > >Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).
> > > >
> > > >The results of the fifth annual benchmark survey on global software
> > > >piracy showed that piracy losses in India exceeded Rs 900 crore at a
> > > >piracy rate of 59 per cent.
> > > >
> > > >The survey, conducted by Independent Research for International
> > > >Planning and Research Corporation, was commissioned by the Business
> > > >Software Alliance (BSA) and the Software and Information Industry
> > > >Association (SIIA).
> > > >
> > > >The continuing piracy problem meant higher prices for consumers, less
> > > >publisher revenue to invest in new products and a potential barrier
to
> > > >success for software start-ups in India.
> > > >
> > > >"If software piracy continues unabated, the local Indian industry
will
> > > >be robbed of thousands of jobs, billions in wages, tax revenues and
> > > >critical investments in new technologies," Mehta added.
> > > >
> > > >Mehta said many chief executive officers, information technology
> > > >managers and general managers are aware of the civil and criminal
> > > >penalties for use of unlicensed software. Yet they continue to fail
to
> > > >act.
> > > >
> > > >"Unfortunately, there are also businesses who deliberately install
and
> > > >use software without appropriate licences. They risk becoming target
of
> > > >legal action," he said.
> > > >
> > > >Software piracy refers to the illegal installation, distribution,
sale
> > > >and use of infringing software. If found liable under the Copyright
> > > >Act, offenders risk criminal penalties of upto three years in prison
> > > >and fines upto Rs 200,000 for the offence of copyright infringement.
> > > >
> > > >Nasscom and BSA would intensify efforts to stop this menace. "We will
> > > >continue to assist enforcement authorities to initiate action against
> > > >individuals and businesses manufacturing, distributing, selling or
> > > >using illegal products as we have done since 1994," Mehta said.
> > > >
> > > >They would also continue to educate the public and the business
sector
> > > >of the effects and dangers of piracy through seminars and press
> > > >releases. Among other things, Nasscom and BSA have launched a reward
> > > >programme which would give Rs 50,000 to anyone for providing
> > > >information leading to successful legal action against companies
using
> > > >unlicensed software, Mehta said.
> > > >
> > > >Anyone could give this information on a hotline, 1600-334455
> > > >
> > > >Their campaign would educate the business sector, the community, the
> > > >distribution channel and dealers about the importance of portecting
> > > >intellectual property rights, both for the local economy and for the
> > > >long-term prosperity of India's dynamic software industry.(ENDS)
> > > >
> > > >----------------------------------------------
> > > >LIG is all for free speech.  But it was created
> > > >for a purpose.  Violations of the rules of
> > > >this list will result in stern action.
> > >
> >
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