Software piracy: Rs 33,800 cr revenue loss

About Rs 33,800 crore (Rs 338 billion) was lost in revenue during the last three years due to software piracy, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

 

According to Nasscom estimates, Rs 900 crore (Rs 9 billion) in revenue was lost in 1999-2000, Rs 1200 crore (Rs 12 billion) in 2000-01 and Rs 1700 crore (Rs 17 billion) was lost in 2001-02 due to software piracy, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sanjay Paswan said in a written reply in the Lower House.

 

Detailing

the measures taken by the government to curtail software piracy, he said the intellectual property right of software was covered under copyright law, violation of which attracts both "fine and punishment".

 

Besides, Information Technology Act was expected to deal with software piracy, as also the enforcement advisory council, which reviews the progress of enforcement of Copyright Act.