(a) whether the software piracy after recording a fall in 1999 has again recorded a spurt during 2001 and 2002;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether nearly 33% of the software packages sold in the country are pirated;
(d) is so, whether the high-profit margin in pirated software packages is luring anti-national elements to the business;and
(e) if so, the steps taken or being taken by the Government to check the piracy?
THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DISINVESTMENT (ARUN SHOURIE)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 318 FOR 12TH MARCH, 2003 REGARDING SOFTWARE PIRACY.
(a), (b) & (c): The estimates for software piracy, as per National Association of Software Services Companies (NASSCOM),
for the last four years, are as follows:
Year Software Piracy (%)
1999-2000 59% 2000-2001 61% 2001-2002 64% 2002-2003 67% (Provisional)
1 In India the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of software are covered under copyright law, violation of which attracts both fine and punishment.
2 Government has also set-up a copyright Enforcement Advisory Council which reviews the progress of enforcement of copyright act and also advises on measures for its better enforcement.
3 Government has been supporting Anti-Piracy Campaign of NASSCOM and instructions have also been issued to various government departments to only use legal copies of software.
4 Information Technology Software is exempted from Customs Duty.
5 Use of free software/open source software will also bring down piracy as it is legally permitted to copy the same at no cost.
6 Information Technology Act 2000 has provisions in dealing with software piracy and contain the problem when copyright violation is done through unauthorised access to a computer, computer system or computer network.