New copyright law to boost local software industry<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The adoption of a new copyright law, that will take effect
\nnext year, will encourage more creativity, development and
\ninvestment in the local software industry, key players said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Richard Kartawijaya, an executive of the Association of
\nIndonesian Software and Telematic Developers (Aspiluki), said the
\nassociation's 180 members were preparing moves to anticipate the
\nlucrative domestic market, with more protection.<\/p>\n
\"The industry is promising here. Actually, our technicians and
\nproducts have entered the international market. But most of them
\nare reluctant to open businesses in Indonesia due to the rampant
\npiracy,\" he told a media briefing here.<\/p>\n
Under the amended Law No. 19\/2002 on Copyrights signed by
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri in June, those involved in
\nsoftware piracy are subject to a maximum punishment of five years
\nimprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$55,493).<\/p>\n
The law will come into effect in June, 2003.<\/p>\n
Richard added that currently there were around 400 software
\nhouses in Indonesia, 60 percent were located in Jakarta and 10
\npercent in the West Java capital of Bandung.<\/p>\n
\"Their quality of products can be categorized as magnificent,\"
\nhe told the media briefing.<\/p>\n
The media briefing was held by the Directorate General for
\nIntellectual Property of the Ministry of Justice and Human
\nRights, together with Aspiluki and the Business Software Alliance
\n(BSA), a multinational association grouping big software
\ncompanies such as Adobe, Apple Computer, Compaq, Dell, IBM, Intel
\nand Microsoft.<\/p>\n
During the briefing, they announced that they would hold a
\nseminar on the \"Importance to Foster Creativity in A Competitive
\nand Conducive Atmosphere by Using Legal Software\" on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
BSA representative for Thailand and Indonesia Jonathan
\nSelvasegaram said the presence of the new law showed that the
\ngovernment was serious in addressing software piracy, which was
\nstill rampant.<\/p>\n
Last year, Indonesia was named the third ranked country
\ninvolved in software piracy in the world after Vietnam and China.<\/p>\n
Quoting a 2001 survey, Selvasegaram said nine out of 10
\ncomputers in Indonesia use unlicensed software.<\/p>\n
The high rate of the use of pirated software is equal to $79
\nmillion, added BSA Vice President and Asia Pacific Director
\nJeffrey J. Hardee.<\/p>\n
Computer users in Indonesia are mostly businesses with a small
\nnumber of personal users.<\/p>\n
Software piracy takes many forms, such as the copying of
\nprograms by users exceeding the quota allowed by the license
\nholder, the installment of unlicensed programs to new hardware by
\nthe seller or the copying of programs available on the internet.<\/p>\n
Richard argued that most of the piracy culprits were aware
\nthat such practices were a crime against intellectual property
\nbut, up to now, the existing law categorized the crime merely as
\na petty crime and failed to deter the culprits.<\/p>\n
The new law, nevertheless, categorized piracy as a serious
\ncrime, with threat of a five-year jail term and Rp 500 million
\nfine.<\/p>\n
Selvasegaram said that even with the new law, BSA would not
\ntake drastic measures but take the role to educate computer users
\non software copyrights.<\/p>\n
\"The users should be aware that the use of legitimate software
\nwill give more benefit to the business,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-copyright-law-to-boost-local-software-industry-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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