DOHA: Microsoft has launched the Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) Notifications in Qatar and other Gulf countries with an offer to unwitting customers having fake software to avail of genuine replacement.
"Customers who have received counterfeit product without knowledge may be eligible to receive free a replacement copy of Microsoft Office or to purchase a new copy as part of the OGA Legalization Kit," said Shahab Ahmed, Business Group Leader, Information Worker Business Division of Microsoft Gulf.
The offer is part of the Microsoft's continuous drive to encourage customers in using genuine Microsoft Office package and the OGA Notifications launched this month helps customers validate that the copy installed on their computers is genuine and properly licensed.
A report on "O8 Piracy Study" released by Business Software Alliance-International Data Corporation in May this year showed that Middle East and Africa ranked fourth worldwide with 59 percent software piracy rate just behind Central and Eastern Europe with 66 percent, Latin America with 65 percent and Asia-Pacific with 61 percent.
Ahmed said OGA is part of Microsoft's commitment to protect its customers and partners from counterfeiters through education, innovative engineering and awareness policies and laws.
"People who use non-genuine Microsoft Office are putting themselves at risk. Non-genuine software has been shown to be more vulnerable to viruses and spyware, which can be used to damage a user's PC or steal personal information," Ahmed warned.
He however said the OGA validation process does not collect information that Microsoft uses to identify or contact the user. "OGA is not designed to catch users of counterfeit software, rather, it is designed to enhance the value of genuine software for Microsoft customers and help them avoid risks of counterfeit software,"Ahmed said.
BSA has been working closely with Microsoft in plotting the raids against fake software resellers as part of their serious anti-piracy crusade around the Globe. In UEA, BAS got the support of the Ministry of Economy in such drive.
UEA however has actually the lowest piracy rate of all the GCC nations. According to a BSA study published last year, the piracy rate in the UAE has remained at between 34 percent and 35 percent for the last five years. In contrast, Saudi Arabia is said to have a 51 percent piracy rate, while in Kuwait the figure stands at more than 62 percent.
By Chris V Panganiban
© The Peninsula 2009
