(a) the estimated loss of revenue for the Government due to the software piracy in the country;
(b) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Software Research and Training Institutes are put under strict scrutiny and vigil; and
(d) the steps taken by the government against such mushrooming of Training Centres who almost cheat public with false propaganda and exaggerated views over job potentiality in software sector?
MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a),(b),(c) and (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.452 FOR 18.04.2001 REGARDING SOFTWARE PIRACY.
(a): Since there is no customs duty and sales tax on software in most States, the loss of revenue to the Government due to software piracy would be negligible.
(b): The Government has taken following measures to curtail software piracy:
(i) In India, Intellectual Property Right (IPR) of software is covered under the Copyright law, violation of which attracts both fine and imprisonment.
(ii) Information Technology Act 2000 has been notified w.e.f 17.10.2000. This act is expected to help in dealing with software piracy and containing the problem.
(iii) Government has also set up a Copyright Enforcement Advisory Council , which reviews the progress of the Enforcement of Copyright Act and also advices on measure for better enforcement.
(iv) Government has been supporting the anti-piracy campaign of National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and instructions have also been issued to various Government Departments to only use legal copy of the software.
(v) Custom duty on software has been made zero.
(c) and (d): While there is no regulation by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on opening of computer training centres in the non-formal sector, the Government of India has launched a Scheme known as the Department of Electronics - Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC), in order to bring about standardization and improvement in the quality of computer education in the country. Institutions / organizations in the non-formal sector (both, private as well as public) meeting certain well defined norms and criteria, in terms of faculty, software and hardware are given accreditation based on their request. Institutes accredited under DOEACC scheme for different levels of courses are monitored for their performance including the issue of false advertisements. Wherever a institution is found not conforming to specified guidelines, accreditations is withdrawn.