The most widely used pirated software include the Microsoft Office Suite (85%), Microsoft’s Operating System (91%) and various software used for editing pictures (40%) (See chart 1).
Furthermore, students are more likely to copy and share pirated software than any other class of software users in Nigeria. Though they have an assortment of software they typically do not buy originals. They meet their software needs by copying from friends (63%), buying non-genuine copies from shops (14%), downloading trial versions and cracking them (20%), or buying originals (3%).
The general population is not much different; the minor difference lies in the fact that a number of working individuals get original software from their work places. Our research also revealed that specalised, professional software, especially for fields like facility management, accounting and engineering are less likely to be pirated than general use software.
It is gladdening to note that most of our respondents indicate that they prefer originals because of the many challenges with security checks and other difficulties they experience with non-genuine copies.
They also indicated readiness to buy original copies At Computer Village, Nigeria’s busiest computer and software market, an original copy of the Microsoft’s Office Suite (home premium, single user) costs between N15,000-N20,000, while a pirated copy costs between N150-N200. An original copy of Microfit for Windows, an econometrics software, costs N130,000 and sometimes you need to place an order before you get a copy, but a pirated version costs just N700 or less. But pirated copies often fail during installation, but that has not deterred those who buy.
Our survey revealed that for every single shop that offers original software there are five others which offer alternative pirated copies at Computer Village. Some shops even sell both. When we spoke to pirated copy marketers, most saw no reason why their trade should be interfered with; they attributed their persistence in the trade to the low capital required for the business and high patronage.
But different institutions are working to see that the tide is reversed. Earlier this year, Microsoft (which has suffered most of the piracy, according to our survey) organized a roundtable discussion to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day; the gathering drew attention to how the use of non-genuine software threatens legitimate businesses and creates a negative impact on both global and local economies.
Microsoft is not alone in its condemnation of piracy. The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), a body set up to facilitate business and trade in software and related services, has as part of it mandate to a goal to “develop rules and regulations that will discourage software piracy and ensure that software products and services are used in accordance with intellectual property rights”. How far the body will go is ultimately a function of government’s commitment and support through effective legislation.
There is business intelligence in all of this data. Over half of respondents say if prices were lower they would change (53%) to originals, nine percent stated that they would switch to originals if there is regulation of intellectual property which punishes violation, while 24 percent say they will buy originals if fakes have negative impact on their computers (see chart 2). All of these factors are variables which a proactive software producer can creatively affect to suit its markets.
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