Piracy in Malaysia: Fighting through education and enforcement

Malaysia’s image has once being alleged as a leading producer and exporter of pirated products. According to Fifth Annual Business Software Alliance (BSA) and International Date Corporation (IDC) Global Software Piracy Study, Malaysia maintained its software piracy rate at 59% , it is representing a loss of US311 million. The following chart illustrates average piracy rates in the Asia Pacific region:

Cultural differences are the major factors that affect the piracy problem. In addition, the strength of intellectual property protection and the availability of pirated software also the factors that determine the piracy rate in the particular country.

Furthermore, development of internet and technology has increased the conveniences of privacy. People produce huge numbers of CDs and DVDs in short time and sell them at very low prices. Those illegal download from internet has caused music and video companies suffer thousand million dollars losses per year.

Therefore, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs work along with Business Software Alliance or other relevant association to counter the piracy problem. They should focus on the sources that cause piracy problem in order to mitigate it.

In addition, they should educate the consumers and computer users through public education such as awareness campaigns. This will enrich the users' knowledge regarding other people copy right. Furthermore, it may inform the businesses and the public at large about the risked associated with using the pirated product and encouraging the use of legitimate product.

Insignificant punishment toward those pirated activities have been the main cause of piracy in Malaysia. Thus, strong government policy with effective enforcement is the key mean to minimize the piracy rate as well. Although it will take longer time to process but it is the most effective method.