The Antipiracy Conversion Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Temofe Ugbona, on Tuesday said that global intellectual property piracy was projected to hit $16.6 billion by 2016.
Temofe said in Lagos that this would further diminish the already stagnant intellectual property industry. “Piracy affects every part of the society – from national economy to individual wellbeing.
“If this menace is not curbed, it will in time, drive the intellectual property industry to the ground, killing innovation and development,” he said.
Ugbona noted that piracy was a deliberate infringement of copyright on a commercial scale, or an unauthorised usage of someone’s intellectual property right.
He said that Microsoft Nigeria was willing to partner with public and private individuals, relevant authorities and governments to fight piracy in Nigeria. “Winning the fight against piracy will involve a lot of awareness campaign and enforcement,” he said.
Ugbona said that converting Unlicensed PCs (UPC) to include pre-installed windows was a way to check piracy. “We can also reduce piracy by implanting Software Asset Management (SAM) practices,” he said.
Ugbona urged stakeholders to educate consumers on right licensing as a strategy to fight piracy, even as he stressed collaboration of the private organisations with government agencies in reducing the menace.