The Government is very concerned at the level of software piracy in Ireland. Software pirates not only undermine the livelihoods of authors and economic entities, but they also inhibit investment in new products. The Government is firmly committed to defeating piracy in the computer software industry and, indeed, in other sectors covered by copyright law.
In this regard, my Department has recently brought forward the Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1998, formerly the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 1998, which is currently before the Oireachtas. This Bill contains stringent new penalties for copyright offences. My Department is also currently drafting a Copyright and Related Rights Bill, which will effect a comprehensive reform of Irish copyright legislation and provide a modern, effective and efficient environment of legal protection for all copyright interests. The programme of copyright reform currently in hands will provide a strong disincentive to software pirates and would-be pirates.
Any initiative which helps to decrease the level of piracy in Ireland is to be welcomed. Accordingly, I welcome the present initiative by the Business Software Alliance in particular, as a contribution to the educational battle to counter the use of copyright infringing software material. Education is critical in the fight against copyright piracy, and I fully endorse all efforts to highlight the importance of copyright compliance in the community as a whole.
