Microsoft to Combat Counterfeit Software and Piracy with GSI
Microsoft has unveiled its new Genuine Software Initiative that will focus the company’s many activities and investments directed at combating software counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy into a single coordinated effort. The initiative will focus increasing investments across three strategic areas: education, engineering and enforcement.
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) estimates that 35 percent of all software used worldwide is counterfeit or otherwise illegal. The recent IDC Economic Impact Study found that if the global software piracy rate was lowered 10 percentage points over the next four years, this change would contribute 2.4 million new jobs and USD 400 billion in economic growth to the global economy.
“By being aware and reporting counterfeit software, consumers can help protect themselves and other consumers, which is good for them, good for software resellers and good for the software industry,” said Cori Hartje, director of License Compliance at Microsoft. “This is why we see these kinds of investments as good for everyone; it’s win, win, win.”
The Genuine Software Initiative includes increased investments in three key areas: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement.
