Anti-piracy raids continue in Kuwait

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information raided three computer resellers involved in the use and trade of illegal software. The raids resulted in the confiscation of two computers, one hard disc and 97 CDs loaded with pirated software. The successful raids were the result of the continuous cooperation between Microsoft, as a Business Software Alliance (BSA) member, and the concerned authorities in the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information.

Qannas Al Adwani, Director of Publications, Ministry of Information, Kuwait said, “The Ministry is exerting efforts to raise awareness among end-users about the importance of using original software and its role in raising return on IT investment.”

Jawad Al Redha, Chairman, BSA said, “Kuwait has achieved remarkable progress during the past two years in the field of combating software piracy and these steps will surely further these achievements.” 

A recent study by the International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that a 10% decrease in Kuwait’s piracy rate between the year 2006 and 2009 would push the growth rate of the country’s IT sector from 68% to 75% and will take the value of Kuwait’s IT sector to US$ 830 million. This will also lead to the creation of 667 additional jobs and will contribute US$ 357 million to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).