Software Alliance wants Phl to cut unlicensed software usage

The Software Alliance (BSA) wants the Philippines to bring down its unlicensed software usage closer to the regional average of 57 percent over the next two years as it undertakes a campaign with the government to raise awareness on the benefits of using licensed software for businesses.

“If we manage to get (it down by) five to six percent over the next two years, that will be a really, really good result,” Tarun Sawney, BSA senior director for Asia Pacific, said during yesterday’s launch of the Legalize and Protect campaign.

If that is achieved, he said, the Philippines’ unlicensed software usage rate should go down to 58 to 59 percent.

Based on a study conducted by International Data Corp. (IDC) and commissioned by the BSA, the Philippines’ unlicensed software usage rate was at 64 percent in 2017, higher than Asia Pacific’s average of 57 percent.

At present, Asia Pacific’s usage rate of unlicensed software is the highest in the world.

Bulk of the unlicensed software used by companies are operating systems and anti-virus.

Sawney said the BSA hopes to bring down the Philippines’ unlicensed software usage rate as it implements the Legalize and Protect campaign which seeks to inform business leaders of the legal, productivity, and security benefits of using licensed software.

“Our goal is to help business leaders understand the imperative to legalize and recognize that investing in licensed software is good for their security, good for corporate reputation, good for corporate productivity, and good for their bottomline,” he said.

Data from IDC showed businesses see an average increase in profits of up to 11 percent based on legalized software assets.

The campaign targets a wide range of industries including manufacturing, information technology, finance, professional services, construction, healthcare, consumer goods, engineering, architecture and design.

Under the campaign, the BSA will conduct public education efforts including marketing and direct appeals to businesses to use only licensed software.

Apart from the Philippines, BSA is working with governments in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam on a similar campaign to help businesses become more aware of the gains they could get from using licensed software.

“The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region is among the most dynamic economic areas of the world, and both domestic and multinational companies are growing and benefitting from the many opportunities in Southeast Asia,” Sawney said.

For the companies in ASEAN to meet their goals, Sawney said they must use only safe, secure, and licensed software.

“Unlicensed software is a liability that is no longer acceptable anywhere,” he said.

Headquartered in Washington DC in the US, the BSA which has operations in more than 60 countries, serves as the leading advocate for the global software industry by promoting legal software and pushing for policies for technology innovation and growth in the digital economy.