Industry watchdog Business Software Alliance (BSA) vice president and regional director, Jeffrey Hardee, said: "In Malaysia, the BSA works closely with various government agencies and the private sector to educate businesses and other consumers on the benefits of using legal software and the risks of using pirated software.

"Member companies of the BSA also conduct their own targetted anti-piracy efforts to protect their intellectual property. Microsoft's Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) program not only seeks to promote the use of original software, it also serves as a useful reminder that Office is a productivity tool, and the software's copyright belongs to Microsoft."

He said that studies conducted by the research firm Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in 2007, showed Malaysia, spent nearly US$4.6 billion on information technology (IT)-- computers, peripherals, network equipment, packaged software and IT services. That spending accounted for 2.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), supported more than 6,900 IT companies with 222,100 IT industry employees, and helped generate US$4.4 billion in IT-related taxes.

"On the other side of the spectrum, further studies by the International Intellectual Property Alliance in 2007 reflected that the Malaysian economy incurred a staggering US$156 million revenue loss due to business software piracy" said Hardee. "A 10 point reduction in PC software piracy alone would deliver an additional 2,600 new jobs, US$140 million in tax revenue, and US$660 million in economic growth in Malaysia."

OGA -- voluntary updates