Pirated DVD, software shops closing amid low demand — NLD

AMMAN — The National Library Department (NLD) expects most shops selling pirated software and DVDs to close due to lack of demand, an NLD official said this week. 

“With the increase in the number of smartphone owners, fewer people are buying music and films on DVDs and CDs,” NLD Director General Mohammad Abbadi told The Jordan Times.

“Technological advancements and Internet users’ easy access to download whatever they need via the Internet is hitting this sector hard,” Abbadi said. 

Tens of shops have closed over the past months and many more will close in the near future, he added.

“Amid decreasing demand and our continued crackdown on these stores, they will eventually run out of businesses because their work is illegal,” said the official.

The commercial value of unlicensed software in Jordan reached $34 million in 2015, according to a recent survey, as these stores do not pay taxes or customs duties.

“The economic losses are big when there is software piracy, but we have been working on reducing the rate over the years and it is on the decline,” Abbadi added.

Some 56 per cent of software in Jordan is not licensed, placing the Kingdom fifth among the Arab world for the lowest use of pirated software, according to the latest Business Software Alliance’s Global Software Survey.

The figure is a marginal decrease from 57 per cent in 2013 and 58 per cent in 2014.

So far this year, the NLD has referred 210 cases to the court that deals with the violation of intellectual property rights.

More than 11,000 pirated items were confiscated including DVDs, CDs and others items such as books, according to Abbadi.

The Jordanian Copyright Law stipulates that it is a crime to download software, music or movies that are protected by legislation. Offenders face a prison sentence of between three months and three years and a fine ranging from JD1,000 to JD6,000.