Microsoft Gulf collaborated with the Qatar Ministry of Economy in clamping down on two suspected illegal resellers.

In its capacity as a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the leading global organisation established by the business software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, Microsoft provided vital leads to Qatar law enforcement agents, which resulted in the subsequent raids on the two establishments, the company said in a statement.

The raids resulted in the confiscation of two personal computers loaded with illegal copies of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office. In addition, some 100 CDs containing pirated copies of installation software for various BSA member programs were seized during the raids, it added.

“The Ministry remains actively involved in protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining the integrity of the country's IT industry. In view of this, we continue to cooperate with the BSA and Microsoft in various anti-piracy campaigns, which include these highly successful raids on two illegal resellers,” said Abdulla Ahmed Qayed, Head of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Office-Commercial Affairs Department, Ministry of Economy in Qatar.

“Piracy is a national concern, as the business implications of this illegal trade can be hugely detrimental to the national economy; this is why we are fully committed to implement measures to eradicate it,” he said.

“Our intensified joint campaigns have yielded very positive results, particularly after the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the BSA and the ministry,” said Jawad Al Redha, BSA co-chairman in the Middle East.

“We will continue our collaborative efforts with the Ministry and the rest of our partners in Qatar, particularly the major stakeholders of the country's IT industry. We believe this will contribute meaningfully in consolidating the IT industry and subsequently the national economy of Qatar,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service