The Business Software Alliance (BSA) and Babcock-Hitachi Philippine (BHPI) announced their execution of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) whereby both parties agree to cooperate in promoting the use of licensed software in the Philippines.
Under the terms of the MOA, BHPI undertook to conduct a company-wide software audit and purchase and install duly licensed software. It also agreed to sign the BSA Code of Ethics and promised to use licensed software in the future. With the help from BSA, BHPI can implement a strict internal audit system to ensure that BHPI will not be exposed to using unlicensed software.
Huey Tan, vice president of the Business Software Alliance, said: "We look t each and every case on its own merits. BHPI is prepared to come clean, join the BSA in the battle against software piracy and educate the public in the risk of software piracy. We hope that this will encourage other companies, large and small alike, to take immediate steps to contact the BSA to ensure that their software is legalized without the need for the law to intervene."
According to BHPI vice president Toshihiko Takahashi, the company is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of their computer system, including the installation of licensed software. "In the long term, this will be very beneficial to our company. BHPI carries a proud tradition of excellence, and we want this to reflect on all our employees down to the last piece of equipment we use within the company." Takahashi said. He also added: "We fully support BSA's efforts against software piracy in the workplace, and think that it is the interest of individual companies and the Philippines at large for all companies to stop using pirated software. We strongly urge other companies in the Philippines who may be using pirated software to act now and legalize their software."
BHPI agreed to participate in the BSA licensing seminar, being one of the activities under the BSA 90-day grace campaign.
A study conducted by Price Waterhouse noted the Philippines has one of the highest piracy rate in the Asian region at 77 percent representing losses of roughly P1.24 billion. Software piracy is said to be most prevalent in the Philippines in the architectural, engineering, services, shipping and manufacturing industries.
BSA believes that its 90-day grace campaign will help reverse the situation. Already a month into the campaign, BSA is reaching out to more than 10,000 companies in the Philippines in promoting greater understanding of copyright by touching base with the widest audience possible and gaining greater respect and support for intellectual creations.