A Study into the Problem of Software Piracy in Hong Kong and China Kenneth Ho 1995 Presented by Lim, Tang Kok.
Download ReportTranscript A Study into the Problem of Software Piracy in Hong Kong and China Kenneth Ho 1995 Presented by Lim, Tang Kok.
A Study into the Problem of Software Piracy in Hong Kong and China Kenneth Ho 1995 Presented by Lim, Tang Kok Outline of article Copyright laws in Hong Kong and China Factors affecting software piracy in Hong Kong and China The problems in enforcement of copyright laws Fighting software piracy in Hong Kong and China Outline of presentation Background Factors: – – – – – The Chinese culture Public awareness Education Government policies Demand for counterfeit software Conclusion Background Software piracy – “the illegal reproduction of copyrighted computer software, whether for commercial or personal purposes”. Kenneth Ho In China, piracy rate was estimated to be more than 90% in 1994. In Hong Kong, piracy rate was about 62%. Most of the pirated software came from China. The Chinese culture Confucianism has strong emphasis on learning by copying. Confucianism and Communism has a notion of sharing creative works and ideas. Benefits for the society are emphasized over individual freedom and benefits. Public awareness Size of China and a population of 1.2 billion. Law of copyright only announced in the 1990’s. Misconception of true negative effects of software piracy. Education Chinese education system was based upon rote learning. Hong Kong education system is based upon force-fed environment. These education systems obstruct original thinking. Consequently, low level of originality and leads to “copying” activities. Government policies “Support” of Chinese government? Maintains layers of testing and licensing procedures designed for protection purposes. In Hong Kong, smuggled counterfeit software is controlled by local gangs. Demand for counterfeit computer software Wide accessibility of counterfeit computer software e.g. Golden Arcade. Counterfeit computer software are being sold at extremely low prices. There is huge foreign demand in conjunction to local demand. Wide-range variety of software available. Conclusion The cause of software piracy is a mix of a number of different factors. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to curb the problem. Cultural and social differences must take into account for any policy to be effective. Question Which factor(s) is the universal factor of software piracy?