Business community warned about software piracy
The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Four organizations of the Computer Software Protection Partnership Program on Monday jointly penned a warning about intellectual property protection for over 10,000 companies in Vietnam, reminding them of severe consequences for using counterfeit software.
The document is to remind companies that software piracy is not a victimless crime. Using unlicensed software not only poses security risks but harms images and reputations, the most valuable assets of an enterprise, the warning stated.
With a piracy rate of 85%, Vietnam has suffered a loss of US$257 million in local jobs and taxation, according to the partnership program. Last year, the program uncovered counterfeit software worth over VND10 billion after over 30 audits at corporate users, said Vu Xuan Thanh, chief inspector of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Government has increased copyright infringement fines to VND500 million to reaffirm its will to fight software piracy in Vietnam. Enterprises can visit http://vapt.org.vn for more information about legal software asset management and to confirm their use of software is legal.
Established one year ago, the program includes the Business Software Alliance, the Business Software Association of Vietnam, the culture ministry and the Copyright Office.