Piracy

Piracy is an illegal use of a certain commodity of a copyrighted or patent work. This is a very common practice in Pakistan, as it is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of pirated optical media of copyrighted sound recordings, motion pictures, business softwares and published materials.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is one the countries which are considered as the Hub of Pirated software. Internet no doubt plays a vital role in illegal distribution of software around the world. A number of website offer free software. Piracy has always been an inevitable part of Internet. Although the term poses a negative picture, yet piracy has played a favourable role in Internet in Pakistan. As the original softwares are so expensive, for instance take the example of Microsoft Systems. They are so expensive in Pakistan, that we cannot afford it. If we continue to work on the original systems, then Internet in Pakistan would never have been able to be at such a position where it is today.

There is no firewall or filter that could stop this illegal practice and Software houses face loss of Millions of Dollars daily. The P2P networking is an effective and easy way to download your desired Computer Program. Kazaa Multimedia Developer (KMD). Filetopia, NetWare are some of the most commonly used software throughout the world including Pakistan. File sharing facility provided by these Networks is easy to use and gained popularity among the Internet users instantly.

Piracy of softwares has made the access of Internet to a common man feasible. Instead, we can say, that piracy has played a positive role in providing a broader coverage esp in a country like Pakistan. A system which in US costs $50and if we can get the same system in Pakistan of Rs.30, then why not go for it.

However, on corporate level, it does have some negative consequences. Because pirated softwares offer no security. So if the system gets collapsed, then Microsoft would not be responsible for it, and the concerned company would have to bear the destructive consequences.

Also, there is no such agency in Pakistan that keeps a check on such pirated activities. Except for the surveillance agents of Microsoft itself. Microsoft Company has agents of their own that keep a check on piracy.

According to the information gained from www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2004/2004_Special_301/Special_301_Priority_Watch_List.html, “Pakistan remained the fourth largest source of counterfeit and piratical goods seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2003. Pakistan has taken some initial steps to address these problems; however, we are disappointed that Pakistan has taken minimal action to address these serious and long-standing concerns. The Government of Pakistan must conduct immediate, vigorous and sustained enforcement against the plants involved in piracy and counterfeiting. The United States also remains concerned over a 2002 ordinance that seriously undermined improvements Pakistan made to its patent law in 2000. new trademark regulations, Cabinet approval of legislation for creation of the Pakistan. However, despite these developments, the overall piracy problems are worsening rather than improving. As a result, Pakistan has been elevated to the Priority Watch List.

Rainbow Center, Karachi is one of the biggest markets of pirated software in Southeast Asia. Pakistani Government is trying hard to eliminate this threat from existing industry but Internet is a place where you can’t stop the flow of information, although few International bodies are planning for an ultimate solution.

piracy information