Azerbaijan, Baku, April 30 / Trend /
Microsoft Corp. joined the World Intellectual Property Organization in recognizing World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, an event that urges governments, industry and consumers to promote discussion about the significance of protecting IP rights, Microsoft Azerbaijan reported on Tuesday.
Respect for the rule of law contributes to a strong IP rights culture, which is essential in spurring innovation in local economies. An increase in legitimate technology businesses can add revenue that supports a country's government programs and other infrastructure goals, creates jobs, increases profits for the broader industry, and helps create a strong business ecosystem. Environments where genuine software thrives also pave the way for better protection for consumers and businesses that know they can feel secure by avoiding the risks that come from using nongenuine software.
"Software piracy and the efforts to illegally profit from counterfeit and pirated software have become increasingly sophisticated and complex, which is why it is so critical to continue to work toward stronger, more effective IP protection," said Juan Hardoy, director, EMEA Anti-Counterfeiting and Digital Crime, Microsoft, who spoke at this week's Seventh Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy in Istanbul. "Microsoft is dedicated to educating consumers and businesses on the real risks they face from the dangerous malware, viruses and spyware that so often result from counterfeit and pirated software."
Microsoft commissioned a study conducted by IDC earlier this year, which found that one in three PCs with counterfeit software installed will be infected with malware in 2013. Because of these infections, consumers will spend 1.5 billion hours and US$22 billion identifying, repairing and recovering from the impact of malware, while global enterprises will spend US$114 billion dealing with the impact of a malware-induced cyberattack. The sheer amount of counterfeit software available is significant, with the total number of counterfeit software programs expected to be installed in 2013 exceeding 2 billion programs, more than triple the amount in 2006.
More information about the IDC study is available at the Microsoft Play It Safe website, http://www.play-it-safe.net, and more information about how to avoid purchasing nongenuine software is available at http://www.howtotell.com. To help people and organizations around the world better understand the value of building a sound IP environment and the ramifications of using nongenuine software, Microsoft has posted information on IP licensing and laws at http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/IPLicensing.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing.
Microsoft Corporation develops and manufactures a wide range of software products. These include desktop and network operating systems, server applications for client-server environments, desktop business applications and business applications for users, interactive programs and games, instruments to work in Internet and development tools. In addition, Microsoft offers interactive (online) services, publishes books on computer topics, and manufactures peripheral equipment for computers, engaged in research and development of new computer technologies. Microsoft products are sold in more than 80 countries, translated into more than 45 languages (including Azerbaijani) and are compatible with most PC platforms.
Scalable Server Operating Systems and Microsoft applications are a great platform for Internet services delivery and the effective business organization.
Microsoft Corporation, operating in Azerbaijan since 2005, is represented by seven experts, focused on interaction between the public and private sectors as well as on issues of humanitarian concern. Microsoft Azerbaijan's main aim is to offer the latest products and software designs that would contribute to Azerbaijan's development through their introduction into e-government, business administration and education.
More information about the company and its products can be found on Microsoft's websites:
www.microsoft.com (English)
www.microsoft.ru (Russian)