The use of pirated software remains high in the Philippines despite gains made over the past 14 years, a trade group said on Friday as it launched a new push to get consumers and business to patronize licensed products.

In a briefing, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) said the piracy rate had gone down to 64 percent as of 2017, down from 67 percent two years earlier and the 72 percent recorded in 2003.

“The Philippines actually is one of the most improved country between 2015 and 2017, declining by 3 percent,” BSA Senior Director Tarun Sawney said.





“But I would like to point out that at 64 percent, it is still higher than the regional average of 57 percent and the world average of 37 percent,” he added.

“It means that 2 out of 3 software used in the Philippines are unlicensed.”

To encourage the use of licensed software, the BSA launched the “Legalize & Protect” program that seeks to raise awareness about the legal, productivity and security benefits.

“Our goal is to help business leaders understand the imperative to legalize and recognize that investing in licensed software is good for their security, good for corporate reputation, good for corporate productivity and good for their bottom line,” Sawney said.

He said the campaign could help decrease the piracy rate by 5-6 percent although a 3-4 percent decline would be “very acceptable.”

Optical Media Board Chairman and CEO Anselmo Adriano, meanwhile, said the government would continue a crackdown on those using unlicensed software.

“Good and profitable corporations must legalize their software assets to protect the interests of their clients, their data and ultimately the health of their business,” he said.

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Deputy Director General Teodoro Pascua said a survey later this year would provide a better picture about the use of unlicensed software.

“We will undertake a survey to determine the consciousness of the people in terms of intellectual property and to determine appropriate program interventions,” he said.