{"id":768824,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/768824/?format=json","text_counter":90,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Osotsi","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13172,"legal_name":"Godfrey Osotsi","slug":"godfrey-osotsi"},"content":"Thank you, Hon. Speaker for this opportunity to contribute to this very important Bill. I rise to support it. This is a very important piece of legislation. As you know, copyright issues are global. Therefore, as a country, that is globally competitive. It is important that our laws are aligned to the global standards. This Bill has very important provisions. One provision is the regulation on matters to do with software piracy. It is important because this country is losing a lot of money through software piracy. The country is losing about Kshs 12.8 billion every year through illegal and unlicensed software. That is a lot of money that I am sure can build a number of roads in this country. You can therefore see the importance of having laws that will govern the issues of software piracy. Software piracy is a global problem. One of the things I will be raising at the Committee of the whole House stage is how to ensure that there is collaboration between the Government and the international providers of technology like Microsoft on matters to do with software piracy. Globally the whole world is losing about Kshs 2 trillion every year because of software piracy. They say, if we try to control even one per cent of piracy, then the world will save up to Kshs7.3 trillion. If you localize that, you will understand why it is important to have very clear policies and laws around the issues of piracy. The Bill talks about piracy on issues of computer programmes. Whereas that is important, there must be a balance between issues of regulating piracy and enhancing innovation. In the Committee stage, I would like to introduce amendments to this Bill so that in the process of handling piracy issues in the computer programmes, we are not at the same time stifling innovation. I am saying that because the modern technology allows for what we call object- oriented programme where you pick pieces of programmes and come up with an integrated programme to do something. It will be very difficult if we say that we are going to completely regulate specific programme. That will be stifling innovation. I am also excited by the provision on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This country is one of the major African countries which are internet-driven economies. Therefore, a lot of piracy will take place over the internet. We therefore need very specific measures to manage The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."}