While software piracy  stifle innovation, harm local economies, the software giant, Microsoft in collaboration with   the Nigerian Copyright Commission. NCC, at the just concluded World Intellectual Property day held recently  in Lagos said that unless software piracy was fought with concerted efforts,local economies will continue suffer.

Commemorating  this year’s World Intellectual Property Day in Nigeria, Microsoft organized a round table to discuss how the use of non-genuine software threatens legitimate businesses and creates a negative impact on both global and local economies.

The event attracted participants from different sectors of the economy including Mr. Babatunde Adetula, Director, Ibadan Zonal Office, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. George Spiff, Managing Director, Steelcon Global Hitech, Mr. Seyi Owolabi of Multichoice Nigeria, Ugochi Agoreyo, Anti-Piracy Manger, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa and Serge Ntamack, Anti Piracy Lead, Microsoft WECA.

Lending his voice to the clarion call by other panelists for the creation of sound IP policies in the country, Serge Ntamack, Anti Piracy Lead, WECA, observed that, “Counterfeiting only thrives in places with weak or non-existent IP laws.”

Similarly, Mr. Babatunde Adetula, Director, Ibadan Zonal Office, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC)  while explaining  the impact of piracy explained  that, “Piracy is like a cankerworm to the nation’s economy.  It is like a caterpillar that eats up the pillars of the economy.  If not checked, pirated software, pirated books and broadcasting would damage the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are involved in property innovation and development.”

“Intellectual property is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Piracy is a global issue that needs to be addressed to ensure software innovation and development.”, he said.