Verafirm launched to support companies

BSA is offering a simple registration process for software developers to combat piracy

Verafirm.org portal, offered by the Software Alliance (BSA) with support from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, also serves as the only global register of companies and a reference for buyers looking to use and maintain an ethical supply chain.

“Verafirm registered companies will receive a seal of assurance that will be testament of their compliance and respect for intellectual property laws and subscription to good work ethics,” said Tarun Sawney, senior director, Antipiracy, Asia-Pacific, BSA. 

“BSA believes Verafirm will play an important role in software intellectual property rights protection, help improve the credibility of the Vietnamese exporters to the US market, and create a better business environment for foreign companies operating and investing in Vietnam,” added Sawney.

U.S. Embassy Hanoi Economic counselor Laura Stone said Verafirm  which was supported by major software publishers “will safeguard and advance U.S. business interests in Vietnam”.

BSA, a leading global advocate for the software industry, last week also joined with the Copyright Office of Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST)’s Inspectorate to celebrate the 5th year since the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding on the Computer Software Ownership Protection Partnership. The three parties have agreed upon a target of reducing software piracy rate in Vietnam to 70 per cent by 2018.

Sawney said at the ceremony that the targets drawn when the partnership was inked had been achieved “with flying colours”.

Vietnam has been removed from the list of countries with the highest rate of software piracy since the signing of the partnership. The country had also been hailed for the strong improvement in anti-piracy campaign, Sawney said.

“Nonetheless, the software piracy rate in Vietnam still stands at a high level, compared to the average Asia-Pacific rate of 60 per cent,” he said.

Software piracy rate in Vietnam had reduced to 81 per cent in 2011 from 92 per cent in 2004, according to BSA data.

Copyright Office of Vietnam acting head Vu Ngoc Hoan said a series of actions and initiatives had been taken to improve users’ awareness of software copyright and lower software piracy rate in Vietnam to the regional average level.