The Yemeni Chamber of Commerce and Industry (YCCI) has cautioned the trade and end-users in Yemen against using pirated software, as part of Yemen's drive to strengthen the campaign for the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in the country, Ameinfo.com reported.
YCCI has announced a series of new measures aimed at reducing software piracy, under the directions of the Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has called for intensification of efforts to protect IPRs, with the larger objective of bringing benefits to the national economy and enhancing Yemen's position as the Cultural Capital of the Arab world.
Abdullah Ali Noaman, director general of the YCCI, commented: “Yemen is committed to developing a legitimate and flourishing software industry, one that will generate high quality jobs for the Yemeni people in the IT sector. We believe the first essential requirement for achieving this goal is to offer full protection to IPRs.”
The Chamber has urged people in Yemen to shun pirated software and warned that use of such software have several negative effects for end-users, such as dangerous viruses and damage to CD-ROMs. It also pointed out that the responsibility of combating piracy rests with sellers as well as end-users.
“End-users have a duty to stop using illegally copied software because this amounts to robbing the developers of their rightful share of revenues and profits. On the other hand, use of pirated software has a negative impact on the national economy because it restricts the development of new software, depriving users of new solutions in the market,” Noaman added.
The aggressive anti-piracy moves have high significance when viewed in conjunction with the recent plan announced by the President of Yemen to set up a Technology City for Telecommunications and Information in Yemen. Yemen's 2001-2025 strategy is to adopt constructive policies, use and employ new technology, create world-class infrastructure, nurture a pool of IT professionals, narrow the digital divide and thus contribute to comprehensive economic and social development of the country.