It is not only the Karnataka Government that wants a good name for
itself in the world market that it is a promoter of the "Zero Piracy Principle".
Even the people of Karnataka would like to be known as "Zero Piracy Population"
and uphold the tradition of Kannadigas as law abiding people.
However, if 90 % of all software used in Karnataka Government itself
constitutes unlicensed stuff, then the path to Zero Piracy is not smooth.
Unless we understand why such a situation has come about, what are the
emerging trends, what are the business policies of the Software producers,
What makes them price their software as they do are all issues to be considered
before the "Compliance Officer" can start cracking the whip.
As has already been discussed in earlier articles, "Unreasonable (As
perceived by a majority of users) Pricing" of software is at the base of
the Software Piracy problem. "Rapid Obsolescence" due to technological
development makes the problem worse.
Manufactures are also affected in the process forcing them to nurse
"High Cost" of manufacture and distribution before the software becomes
obsolete resulting in "Greedy Pricing".
The attempts of major Software developers such as Microsoft to bundle
application with OS software, to build monopolies is too well known to
need elaboration here.
Just as a "People's Government" is expected to control the market price
of essential commodities through "Anti Hoarding" and "Price Control measures",
it should also step in if there appears to be an exploitation of the society
in any segment. Even in the free market economy such as USA, the "Anti
Trust Laws " do take effective measures to curb anti society policies as
we have seen in recent days. It is therefore perfectly natural for Karnataka
Government to pursue policies that moderate the implementation of the "Zero
Piracy Drive" and make it "A Painless Transition".
Apart from the strategies already discussed, such as "Encouragement
of Open Source Software", "Encouragement of Indigenous Software Development",
" Setting up of an R &D Fund", " Setting up of an Incubator and Venture
Capital Fund", "Introducing of of a Reverse Convertible Equity Finance
Scheme", "Setting up a New Generation Finance Corporation" etc, the long
term permanent solution lies in the setting up of "Sharable Software Resources".
The concept of "Shareable Software Resources" is important for the reason
that "No Single User" may be in a position to optimally use a software
product and therefore pay its full price. On the other hand if there is
a way to share the cost, he would be keen on using a "Licensed Software"
instead of a "Pirated Software".
In the Internet era, the solution for this "Sharing" is also not difficult
at all. The concept of ASP s (Application Service Providers) is eminently
capable of taking care of this requirement. The initial moves in this regard
have not been a great success only because the MNC software industry is
not keen in promoting this concept as it may lead to erosion of their revenue
as compared to a strict Copyright implementation regime.
The role of the Government is therefore to develop "ASP Estate" in the
Public sector (Like Industrial estate) where software developers can park
their "Web Access Version" of their products and let public use them on
"Pay as you use basis". The ASP Estate can provide some basic infrastructure
which may include a "Middlewear" that "Web enables" the traditional software.
Those software manufacturers who throw in atleast a "Minimal functionality
Version" into this pool may be given preferences in Government contracts
for licensed software as well as other benefits from the public funds.
Software manufacturers can also be persuaded to throw in the "Phased
out versions of software" which have a useful life to contribute them to
this pool. I understand that Corel has adopted such practice of giving
away the previous versions of its products free since it is not any way
making money on them. In India, recently enmail.com has come up with a
readiness to support "Open Source Software" and "Free ASP Services". If
concerted efforts are taken in this direction, the "Sharable Software Pool
of this ASP Estate" could be formidable.
Being available on the Internet such services can be widely distributed
not only in India nut elsewhere. Such services can be combined with "Hardware
related Services" such as "Print Outs" being made available at "E-Commerce
Fulfillment Centers" at street corners. (Such centers are already coming
up and Cybercafe's can also provide such interactivity with the public).
Thus the path to "Zero Piracy" has one "Stricter Enforcement Route"
which is painful and could be devastating, as also a "Painless" route suggested
above. If this is accepted in principle, Government as well as the public
can divert all their future investments to "Building Connectivity" rather
than buying software which keeps becoming obsolescent every alternate year.
This is the concept of "Network system" consisting of "Thin clients" and
"ASP servers accessible on the Internet", which is already hailed as the
future. Any investment made by the Government in such a project will therefore
be an investment in the right direction.
An effective implementation of this idea calls for Technology Specialists
and Cyber Law Specialists cooperating with the Government so that what
comes out will be techno-legally feasible. People would love it. Software
Developers from India would embrace it. MNC Software developers will complain
but cannot resist the temptation of being part of such a people's movement.
Does Karnataka Government has the will? to show the way? or will
it leave it to Mr Chandrabau Naidu to take the lead in this aspect also?..
Or will it the opportunity for the MP or Maharashtra Chief Minister to
steal the show?
Let's wait and watch.
Naavi
June 15, 2001
Related Articles:
A Revolutionary Thinking is Required
in Financing Software Projects
Encourage Open Source Initiatives and
Copyleft
Alternate Strategies to Prevent Software
Piracy- Encourage Indigenous Software Developers
The War Against Piracy..Need For Positive
Remedies
Soon, There will be nothing like IPR...if
Karnataka to become a "Zero Piracy State"
Comments and Suggestions can be sent
to Naavi
