The verdict was reached as a result of a lawsuit filed by Microsoft, a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international organization working towards a safe and legal digital world, against the convicted reseller once it established that software piracy with intent to generate profit was perpetrated at his shop.

"The BSA firmly believes that this verdict is a step in the right direction towards reducing piracy rates in Jordan. The message sent by this verdict is clear and that's Jordan is serious about imposing harsher sentences on IP Rights violations," Spokesperson for BSA Member Company Representative Microsoft Aly Harakeh told ag-IP-news Agency.

"BSA believes that this verdict is going to have an impact, however, we shouldn't be resting on our laurels and must continue in our enforcement and awareness campaigns in collaboration with the local stakeholders - public and private sectors as well as NGOs and Educational institutions," he added.

Though the verdict is the first of its kind in Jordan,  courts in other Arab countries have issued similar – fines and imprisonment - sentences against IP violations.

Tawfiq Tabbaa, BSA’s legal counsel in Jordan, was reported to praise the verdict saying: “BSA and its member organizations value the Jordanian Court’s diligence and applaud the verdict issued against the software pirate.” Tabbaa described the sentence as a ‘turning point’ adding that it will act as a deterrent against future copyright violations and convey a clear message that Jordan protects innovation and creativity.

“International and local software vendors have started to notice the impact of greater commitment by the Jordan law enforcement authorities to pursue copyright violations and to curb software piracy,” Tabbaa said. BSA has been assisting local law enforcement agencies with periodical training and support to ensure that they keep up with the challenging requirements of copyright enforcement.

BSA plans to launch a Jordan-wide campaign targeting small and medium businesses urging them to address their license compliance situation. Software vendors have also mobilized their partners to assist their customers in acquiring the appropriate licenses for their business.

“Reducing piracy will help attract local and foreign investment; therefore creating highly-paid job opportunities that contribute to the economic and social welfare of Jordan,” he pointed out.

Tabbaa reiterated BSA’s praise of Jordan track record and the efforts made by the Jordanian authorities and the Department of the National Library in particular in reducing software piracy by two percentage points - 61 percent in 2006 - and keeping software losses to piracy - $19 million in 2006 - at a steady level. Jordan is one of three countries in the region that managed this feat.

"BSA thinks that the punishment is fair considering the particulars of this case. However, in the future, punishments should definitely be proportional to the damage perpetrated by the violation," Harakeh concluded.

source: ag-IP news