Original software 'secures Internet cafe business'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When he opened his warnet (Internet cafe) business five years
\nago, Roy installed pirated software for only Rp 20,000 (US$2) a
\ncomputer.<\/p>\n
In time, his warnet business in Tebet, South Jakarta,
\nflourished and he was able to buy more desktop computers also
\ninstalled with copied software.<\/p>\n
But a suggestion from the Indonesian Internet Cafe Association
\n(AWARI) chairwoman Judith MS Lubis changed Roy's way of business.
\nJudith told him that by installing original software would make
\nhis business legitimate.<\/p>\n
\"So, I decided to install original Microsoft Windows Home
\nEdition programs for all 13 desktop computers at my warnet,
\nalthough I have had to spend about Rp 9.6 million to do so,\" Roy
\nsaid on Monday.<\/p>\n
Roy, however, is only one of about 500 Internet cafe owners
\nnationwide who have installed original software to run their
\nbusiness. AWARI estimates that about 90 percent of its 5,000
\nmembers still use unlicensed software.<\/p>\n
Warnet with illegal software, a violation of Law No. 19\/2002
\non copyright protection, were the recent target of police raids
\nin Jakarta and other cities in Java. Perpetrators can be
\nsentenced to a maximum of five years' jail and fined up to Rp 500
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Judith said so far AWARI had received reports that two
\nInternet cafes had been completely shut down by police as \"they
\nfailed to show an end-user license to them\".<\/p>\n
With 87 percent of software on the market estimated to be
\ncopied, according to a study by the Business Software Alliance
\n(BSA), Indonesia ranked fifth in global software piracy after
\nVietnam, the Ukraine, China and Zimbabwe two years running in
\n2003 and 2004.<\/p>\n
The BSA has opened a hotline number -- 0800-1-272-272 -- to
\nallow the public to participate in the government campaign to
\ncurb piracy. The international organization is offering Rp 50
\nmillion in cash for any solid evidence or reports of software
\npiracy.<\/p>\n
In another effort to increase Internet cafe owners' awareness
\non copyright law, the AWARI take a roadshow to Jakarta, Bandung,
\nSurabaya, Yogyakarta, Medan and Denpasar.<\/p>\n
\"We will kick off the roadshow in Yogyakarta on Thursday by
\norganizing a workshop to train trainers who will help internet
\ncafe owners operate their businesses in accordance with the
\nregulations,\" Judith said.<\/p>\n
Microsoft director for small and mid-markets Megawaty Khie
\nsaid the company would support the association's move. The
\ncampaign followed up the Microsoft Software Rental Agreement for
\nInternet Cafes the firm and AWARI signed in April, allowing
\nwarnet owners to buy licensed Microsoft software gradually.<\/p>\n
Microsoft would also offer training on the use of its
\ntechnology, the implementation of licenses and marketing, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Judith said AWARI would encourage Internet cafes to set a
\nstandard price for their services in a bid to avoid unhealthy
\ncompetition. (001)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/original-software-secures-internet-cafe-business-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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