While software piracy stifle innovation, harm local economies, Microsoft in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission. NCC, at the just concluded World Intellectual Property day held recently in Lagos said that unless software piracy was fought with concerted efforts,local economies will continue suffer.

It is very important that people understand that software piracy does not harm only the MNCs but also the small companies. We think if this message is sent across strongly, government will develop the right tools and process to ensure that piracy and counterfeiting are eliminated in Nigeria.

That it is coming from Microsoft does not undermine the message – piracy is bad for any economy because no economy can grow software if no one pays for software products. As we steal from Microsoft, so will be steal from the young entrepreneur. It does not have preferences!