Microsoft to sue
Globacom over alleged piracy
By Shina Badaru
IT
Telecom Editor
Microsoft
Nigeria may sue second national operator (SNO) Globacom Limited, over alleged
piracy of its software products.
When
Daily Independent sought confirmation of the planned suit, Microsoft Nigeria
officials refused to comment.
However,
sources familiar with the details said the decision by the software company to
file court action against Globacom over alleged violation of intellectual
property rights followed deadlock of previous talks to resolve contentious
matter between both parties.
The
imminent court action may also prove a bitter birthday present for the SNO
which only this week celebrated the first anniversary of the commercial rollout
of its mobile cellular service, Glo Mobile.
Globacom
also did not comment on the allegations.
Meanwhile,
if Microsoft takes its action against Globacom, it may mark the beginning of
anti-piracy actions in the telecoms sector after previous clampdowns, which
have focused on banks and financial institutions in the country.
Raids
have in the past been carried out on financial institutions following alleged
intellectual property infringements perpetrated by most banks running their
computers on illegal software.
Microsoft
has waged the piracy battle under the aegis of Business Software Alliance
(BSA). The body which is in Nigeria to protect the interest of member companies
is also the voice of the world's leading software developers. It educates
computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters
innovation and expands trade opportunity; and fights software piracy.
Its
members include software makers like Adobe, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Softline
Group Companies, Corel Corporation, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates and
Symantec.
BSA
posits that piracy stifles innovation and destroys financial incentives to
create new products for both the local and global software development
communities while harming the economy.
