Illegal software - protecting Peruvian business

Illegal software - protecting Peruvian business

Patricia Covarrubia   January 15, 2016   No comments:

The Peruvian Institute of anti-competition and intellectual property (INDECOPI) has been recognised by the Business Software Alliance (BSA). The BSA is an association created to defend the objectives of the software industry and its hardware partners. It is known as “the leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace.” Recognition comes for the work INDECOPI, through the Directorate of Copyright, is achieving against the use of illegal software.


Last year INDECOPI run its 5th campaign on legal software [V Campaña de Software Legal] promoting the use of accredited software. The campaign, intended at small and medium enterprises (SMEs), consists on verifying the software installed on SMEs computers. To do so, there is a virtual platform where SMEs file the type of software they use and the details of the license they do have. Failing to submit the requirements and/or if the Directorate of Copyright is not satisfied by the information filed, the Directorate may conduct inspection activities, without prior notice. If a company is using illegal software a fine (of up to 180 UIT (tax units)) and criminal penalties (of up to 8 years in prison as established in the Penal Code), may be imposed.

According to the Directorate, “the four previous campaigns has found the use of legal software in more than 14,000 companies in the country.”

The BSA reports the efforts being made by INDECOPI as well as those by the Peruvian judiciary – imposing sanction against those who are found selling illegal software.


The campaign not only tries to regulate the use of software but it also advice business against the use of illegal software because it risks the company information and may cause technical problems on their devices.

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'I decide, I respect': educating younger generations to appreciate IP

'I decide, I respect': educating younger generations to appreciate IP

Patricia Covarrubia   August 17, 2015   No comments:

The Peruvian IP Office (INDECOPI) reports than during 2013 and 2014, “a total of 50,000 students from various public and private schools of Peru received didactic training on the protection of copyright thanks to the educational program ‘I decide, I respect: rejection to smuggling and respect for intellectual property’”.

The program
The educational program is dedicated to students in their 4th and 5th year of secondary school. It aims to teach teenagers to appreciate, value and respect intellectual property and thus, reject piracy. By raising awareness the talks covers “the scope of copyright and the contribution of creativity and cultural industries to the country’s economic development.”

The program is supported by INDECOPI, as part of the Commission to Combat Piracy and Customs Crimes (CLCDAP). It involves designating key speakers who participate in the educational talks. Therefore, as INDECOPI has seen a success of this program, it has decided that by 2015 it would continue to impart more talks to more than 30,000 students nationwide. In fulfilling this goal, it reports that “during the first half of this year has managed to train 14,162 students, accounting for 47.20% of projections.”

The program goes in line with several campaigns brought by the INDECOPI in regards to the protection of intellectual property in general. Indeed, there is no point to have legislations in place when the society is not aware of what actually is protected, what and why it is wrong. I remember several years ago, in the era of hiring DVDs [cannot remember if I actually watched it on cinemas], a very powerful advertising called “You wouldn't steal a car...You wouldn't steal a handbag... Piracy. It's a crime.” The advertising indeed was making the audience aware of not just the issue (downloading movies) but actually what the crime was and comparing it to more visual situations such as stealing a car or a bag. Particularly I believe that the culture of a country plays a crucial role.

In previous posts I have indicated my astonishment when wanting to purchase a CD in my country and could not do so. In 2013 while visiting family members in Venezuela I wanted to bring back some CDs with traditional music and the only music shop that I could find (in a very nice shopping mall) was someone with a table placed in a corridor selling well presented CDs with covers but were actually not original. Of course, the streets are full of the so-called ‘informal marketplace’, fitted tight with tents and tables selling textiles, pirated music and films, electronics and all the likes. How do you combat piracy, when it appears to be the ‘normal’ economy of a country? I strongly believe that a well-educated society (in all aspect of life) is fundamental. SO well done Peru! every little helps.

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INDECOPI: the watchdog!

INDECOPI: the watchdog!

Patricia Covarrubia   September 08, 2014   No comments:

Once again this year (previously reported here) the Peruvian National Institute for the Defence of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) has reaffirmed that “ illegal reproduction or sale of any domestic or foreign production, could be fined up to 180 tax units (ITU).”

INDECOPI’s statement came after the premiere of a national film called 'Perro Guardián' (Watchdog) which has been selected for the International Film Festival in Montreal 2014. The Peruvian Institution discourages the population to be part of illegal products which demoralizes creators and producers - it also hurts the economy. It asked the population to only “access legal and original products and services, refusing piracy in all its forms”.

Several times INDECOPI, through the Directorate of Copyright (DDA), has coordinated actions and campaigns seeking to combat piracy and so enforcing copyright. INDECOPI is working in this with the Commission to Combat Customs Crimes and Piracy (CLCDAP), the Prosecutor's Office and the National Police of Peru. INDECOPI reports that this type of campaigns does “have good results. For example, the movie ‘Viejos Amigos’, released a few weeks ago, sets record attendance in theatres”.

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