Anti-piracy raids on two IT resellers

Microsoft has announced successful anti-piracy raids on two computer resellers in Dubai who were found downloading business software without authorisation.

Microsoft is a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the voice of the global commercial software industry.

Microsoft and the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) co-ordinated with authorities concerned for the raids, which resulted in the confiscation of 70 counterfeit CDs and two desktop computers loaded with unlicensed versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2007 software. Following the raids, the accused have been charged with violation of the copyright law.

"Eliminating software piracy from the country is high on the agenda for the MoE. We will work closely with BSA and its members to curb software piracy," said Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, MoE Undersecretary.

"The raids reaffirm the commitment of the UAE and the BSA to rid the country of the menace of software piracy, which can dent economic progress. The BSA will continue with its anti-piracy campaigns in the UAE which will serve as a warning to intellectual property rights offenders, while highlighting the affects of using pirated software to the end users," said Jawad Al Redha, BSA Co-Chairman in the Gulf.