Pirated software, hardware use dangerously high in Turkey

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

The volume of illicit software use in Turkey is estimated at $600 million. DHA photo

The share of unlicensed software and hardware has reached 62 percent in Turkey, exceeding 42 percent of the world average and 32 percent of the European average. 

Sector representatives warned of a possible harsh reaction by the U.S. against Turkish firms which use such products, just as it did to many Chinese, Brazilian, Thai and Indian firms. 

“Our companies need to establish their own intellectual property rights departments as soon as possible. People who work in these departments must check whether the used software and hardware are original. If they are not original, these people enable these unlicensed materials to be replaced by legal, original ones,” said managing partner of Beceni-Türkekul-Sevim law firm, Yasin Beceni. 

He noted the U.S. has launched a series of legal actions against a total of five firms in China, Brazil, Thailand and India in several sectors by claiming these firms had been using unlicensed software and hardware, establishing a ground for unfair competition. 

“The use of unlicensed software and hardware is dangerously high in Turkey, representing 62 percent. This is fairly higher than the world average, 42 percent, and the European average, 32 percent. This situation is not good for Turkey’s image. Turkey may unfortunately be classified under the same group with countries notorious for using pirated products unless Turkish companies take the necessary measures,” he said.

According to leading software intelligence solutions provider, V.i. Laboratories, the value of pirated software in 2011 increased to $63.4 billion. 

Turkey followed China in software piracy in 2012 among Microsoft markets, which places the country off of the global company’s top 20 markets list, the local chief executive of the company told to Reuters earlier. 

The market volume of illicit software use in Turkey is estimated to approximately $600 million, according to the latest data from Business Software Alliance. 

These figures put Turkey among the largest countries in terms of pirated software along with China and Russia, among others.