The Nigerian Copyright Commission has said high quality packaging of counterfeit software signals a new threat to Nigerian Business.
The Commission raided the premises of Plum Telecom, a computer reseller based in Computer Village at Adejoke Plaza Ikeja, following a petition on behalf of Microsoft Nigeria.
During the raid, which took place on 15 October 2009, the Commission recovered multiple copies of counterfeit Microsoft software.
This raid was particularly significant as the packaging of the counterfeit software seized was of a very high quality and, as such, difficult to differentiate from genuine software even to the most experienced computer user. To make matters worse, this counterfeit software was being sold at the same price as genuine Microsoft software.
“In a large number of cases the counterfeit software we find is of a very low quality, cheap to make and easy to identify as fake,” said Akeem Aponmade, speaking on behalf of Adebambo Adewopo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
“In this case, however, we are dealing with a much more sophisticated kind of criminal who deliberately purchased high quality counterfeit software, which could dupe even the savviest of customers into spending money into purchasing a product they believed to be genuine.”
Microsoft became suspicious of the activities of Plum Telecom and carried out a test purchase of software from the reseller. This provided irrefutable proof that the company was offering and selling counterfeit software to customers disguised as the original. With this proof in-hand Microsoft approached the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
During the raid, multiple counterfeit versions of some of Microsoft’s most popular products were found including Microsoft Office Professional, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition and Microsoft Server Standard Edition.
“People usually make a conscious choice to purchase low grade counterfeit software knowing it is not genuine in order to pay less,” added Uzo Okpaka, Channel Compliance Manager for Microsoft Anglophone West Africa.
“This case represents a new threat to businesses and consumers across Nigeria as even those who would never consider purchasing fake software are being tricked into doing so by unscrupulous resellers.”
Mr. Ogboru from the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) welcomed the raid of Plum Telecom’s business adding “Piracy is not a victimless crime. The activities of Plum Telecom put the businesses of legitimate resellers in jeopardy and impact the credibility of the Nigerian IT reselling community as a whole”.
Although the law is very clear about prescribing penalties for buying and possessing stolen goods, users cannot be held liable if there was no intention to buy counterfeit software.
“If it can be proven that the computer or software reseller ‘‘tricked’ you into buying counterfeit software, then the reseller is the one who will face prosecution, not you,” said Uzo Okpaka from Microsoft.
Before a customer purchases Microsoft software they should ask themselves questions such as, Is the computer reseller a certified Microsoft partner? Did they receive the correct versions of the software they paid for? Were they given the original software media (i.e. the CD, DVD or recovery disc) associated with the software? Did they receive all the original supporting documentation for the software including user manuals and warranties? Does the computer have original certificate of authenticity stickers placed on the side of the tower case or under the laptop for each piece of software pre-loaded on the hard drive and if the reseller is prepared to offer after-sales service and support for your software.
“A ‘no’ answer on any of these questions should immediately raise your suspicions about the authenticity of the software being given to you. If you’re in doubt, make sure that you contact your local Microsoft office for help and advice,” concluded Okpaka.
Olatunji Solicits Support for Facilities’ Upgrade
Dr. Oluwole Olatunji, the director-general of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos has called on the National Assembly to assist the institute to provide funds for the replacement and upgrading of obsolete facilities.
Olatunji made this appeal when Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology paid a working visit to the institute.
He said most of the equipment used for research purposes were old and non functional, adding that the results obtained with such equipment would not be respected.
“It is hoped that the visit of this honourable house committee will help in the quest to rightly position Science, Technology and Innovation Systems (STI) to drive the national economic and technological development of our dear country.”
Olatunji said his organisation embarked on major repairs, especially the laboratories and it gulped a lot of money. “We need to rehabilitate all the laboratories, it is very important. We have 46 and we still have a long way to go, we are changing our equipment gradually, we need more equipment and we need funds to buy the equipment. Facility without style is not complete,” he said.
According to him, the institute was training its staff to enable them get acquainted with the technology and translate their research products into commercial purposes, saying, “we have a department that conducts training and they also go to the grassroots, but what we are saying is that we have to increase the tempo at which we go there and by next year, we want to make sure we cover as many areas as possible.”
Hon. Akinlade stressed the need for the institute to create awareness about its products and partner with the local government so that its products would not only get to the end users, but would contribute towards the development of the economy. “In terms of research and development, the institute still has to do more in the areas of awareness because it is not enough to do a research and keep it in the cupboard,” he said.
He said the House would appropriate funds for the institute in the 2010 appropriation bill to enable it carry out its operations, adding that there was need for the institute to write a proposal, which would show all research findings so that members of the committee would assist in making them popular at their various constituencies.
