Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

87 percent of software is currently used in Azerbaijan without a license, according to research conducted by the International Data Corporation -- a market research, analysis and advisory firm, head of the representative office of Microsoft in Azerbaijan said Tuesday, according to the Baku-based Trend news agency.

"The commercial value of unlicensed software in use is estimated at $67 million, and it causes a huge loss to Azerbaijan's economy and a lot of harm to the local IT-business, discourages the creation of jobs and deprives the government of tax revenue," Rufat Gadzhialibekov said at a press conference.

Gadzhialibekov noted that as a result of the measures taken, the number of state-run institutions using legal software has increased.

Moreover, Microsoft Azerbaijan offers different benefits to promote legal software usage by government agencies and other consumers. Thus, state bodies and big companies buying software for a large number of computers may get discounted prices for a variety of licensed programs.

Companies that have concluded an enterprise agreement can purchase legal software for their personal computers for preferential prices under the only condition that the software is bought for at least 250 computers, Gadzhialibekov said.

Moreover, software is sold with 60-90 percent discount to promote the use of legal software in educational institutions, museums, and libraries.

Microsoft also participates in the People's Computer project in Azerbaijan along with computer giant HP and local partner BestComp Group. Computers are sold within the project under an interest free loan for up to 12 months at a price of 25-40 percent below market value.

20,284 computers have been sold since the project was launched in the country with population of about 9.3 million people in April 2009.

There are 20 computers per 100 people in the country, Trend reported, citing statistics of the Azerbaijani communications ministry.