JEDDAH, 6 February — In an ongoing crackdown on copyright piracy, officials from the Ministry of Information have confiscated computer software and hardware worth about SR5 million after a series of raids on various computer shops and assembly centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar.
The officials also raided a number of private apartments being used as centers for the illegal copying of software. A large quantity of equipment and programs, which were ready for distribution, were confiscated. In addition, the ministry took away equipment used for illegal distribution, including a number of cars.
As part of its continuous campaign to protect intellectual property rights, the Ministry of Information has warned these shops to apply corrective measures and legalize their operations. The ministry has also warned of surprise raids on legally registered establishments to ensure that they abide by the copyright law.
Sales at IT shops in Riyadh and Alkhobar have increased considerably following the crackdown, as a large number of companies, organizations and individuals have started buying original software to avoid possible detection and punishment by the ministry.
Minister of Information Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said his ministry was keen to protect intellectual property rights and the interest of the national economy by strictly enforcing local laws and regulations.
A plan has been developed in order to combat piracy and the misuse of computer programs, which cause millions of riyals in losses to local and international software developers every year.
To implement the anti-piracy program, an updated blacklist of violators will be released every month. And by directly contacting and coordinating with the copyright department at the Ministry of Information, companies or organizations will have the opportunity to remove their names from the blacklist by proving that they are abiding by the law.
