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Botswana: Net Closes in on Software Pirates
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The Voice (Francistown)
18 March 2008
Posted to the web 18 March 2008
Zeph Kajevu
Francistown
Last month, a weeks-long investigation into software pirating resulted in the Botswana Police arresting alleged software piraters in Gaborone. This according to Lee-Anne Poon of Tribeca Public Relations, who told The Voice this week that after weeks of careful investigations, planning, a successful sting operation was achieved.
Poon, speaking to The Voice this week from base in Rivonia, South Africa, said the two computer and software resellers in Gaborone (names withheld for now), are the latest companies to be raided by the Botswana Police Service on positive proof that they have allegedly been selling computers with pirated Microsoft software.
In total, six computers containing unlicensed versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system and Microsoft Office applications on sale have been confiscated - in addition to 16 CDs containing a variety of counterfeit Microsoft software, all amounting to a total street value of P103, 000 (US$16 000). Five staff members, including the owners of these businesses, have been arrested on charges of copyright infringement and, if found guilty, they could serve a term of imprisonment or, alternatively, pay heavy penalties. According to Abed Hlatshwayo, Microsoft's anti-piracy manager for East & Southern Africa, when users or businesses purchase new computers, they should ensure that they receive all the relevant media (CDs) and documentation that accompany genuine copies of Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office.
This includes a certificate of authenticity, which should be affixed to the physical computer being bought, and original CDs, which prove that the versions of Microsoft Windows operating system and Office being used are genuine. The Botswana Polices Services, in accordance with the Copyright and Neighbouring Act of the Republic of Botswana, conducts raids against dealers of counterfeit and pirated materials across a wide variety of goods, including music, DVDs, software, clothing, pharmaceutical products and general consumer goods.
Hlatshwayo said that the department has been met with much success in its efforts to combat piracy in Botswana, largely due to the support of the intellectual property owners themselves. In order to train law enforcement officials to identify pirated software, Microsoft has hosted several workshops for law enforcement departments in Botswana. These workshops have made it easier for the Botswana Police Services to find, catch and prosecute suspected software pirates in the country.
He added: "We have already seen how these workshops have benefitted Botswana's software piracy rate." "In 2005, the software piracy rate in Botswana was 82% and in 2006 we saw that rate drop by a percentage point to 81%. We look forward to seeing a further drop in the 2007 rates which are due out in May this year," he concludes. Firstly, Microsoft carried out several investigations and found that the dealers of the implicated companies were selling PCs with pirated Microsoft software. With these findings Microsoft approached the police to report the matter and they carried further investigations which were followed by the subsequent raids, arrests and confiscations.
As for the revenues that Botswana is losing as a result of software piracy, a Business Software Alliance's (BSA) study into software piracy, shows that Botswana's piracy rate was estimated at 81 per cent in 2006 which equates to an approximate loss of US$12 million (P72 million) to Botswana's economy per year. "We are hoping that this rate will reduce and we look forward to the 2007 piracy rates report which is due to be launched in May 2008."
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Officer for South Central, Detective Senior Superintendent Kabo Marage, said that Botswana Police did not know when the arrested would appear in court because investigations were still in progress.
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"It will be only after the conclusion of investigations that the Police would be in a position to comment on the arrests," Marage said. Attempts to speak to representatives of the two companies involved proved futile.
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