IPR: SINGAPORE'S SOFTWARE PIRACY RATES DROPS

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001801 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR FOR VESPINEL AND JJENSEN COMMERCE FOR JBAKER USPTO FOR PFOWLER COPYRIGHT OFFICE FOR MPOOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD EINV SN SUBJECT: IPR: SINGAPORE'S SOFTWARE PIRACY RATES DROPS REF: A. SINGAPORE 1540 ¶B. SINGAPORE 811 ¶1. Singapore's software piracy rate fell to 40 percent in 2005, down two percent from 2004, according to a May 23 Business Software Alliance (BSA) report. This represents a decrease double that of the previous year; Singapore now ranks among the twenty countries worldwide with the lowest piracy rates. (Note: The U.S. piracy rate is 21 percent, the lowest in the world. End Note.) ¶2. BSA's Asia Director attributed the improved piracy rate to recent changes to Singapore's copyright laws and a well-publicized enforcement action (reftels). Intensive public outreach efforts by BSA and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) also played an important role, he said. Looking ahead, the BSA plans to continue hosting software management educational seminars and lobbying Singapore to strengthen whistleblower protections. The BSA receives hundreds of reports monthly alleging illegal software use, but few individuals are willing to come forward and contribute to an investigation, in part due to the lack of such protections. HERBOLD