9 December, 2001
LG LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION FLATRON TV-VCR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Ministry of National Heritage and Culture raids four companies in Oman
Copyright Implementation Action Targets Companies Using Illegal Software
keralamonitor.com Muscat; The latest copyright protection action by the Omani Ministry of National Heritage and Culture has come in the form of 4 raids, which were conducted against companies using illegal software in Muscat. The scale of the action was remarkable: more than 86 PCs were found to be loaded with hundreds of unlicensed software. This software included Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98,Windows 2000, Office 97,Office 2000, Autodesk AutoCad 14, AutoCad 2000 and Symantec Norton A.V.2000. The Omani government has stepped up its action against illegal software, as part of its plan to promote the development of the IT sector in Oman. The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, which is responsible for intellectual property protection in the Sultanate, has been conducting extensive awareness and enforcement action to curb the trade and use of illegal software throughout the country.
In addition to focusing on companies that are using unlicensed software, the Ministry has also been actively combating the trade in illegal software, where it conducted numerous raids against resellers earlier this year, one of which lead to the deportation in April of two illegal software dealers.
" The Omani authorities could not have expressed their intention to protect the country's IT sector more clearly," commented the BSA's director, Jawad Al-Redha. " " Illegal software cost the Omani economy more than 2.5 million Riyals in the year 2000. 2.5 million Riyals that could have been used to encourage investments, create jobs and promote cultural exchange in the Sultanate. The Omani government is well aware of this issue and is using coordinated and consorted action to resolve it. Their determination and efficiency are to be highly praised"
The Omani copyright protection law (47/96) dictates penalties reaching the sum of 2000 Omani Riyals and a 2 year prison sentence. The government, in cooperation with the BSA, has been conducting awareness campaigns about software licensing, to educate companies about copyright laws and software licensing principles.
" The use of illegal software is a major deterrent for the economy," added Al-Redha, " illegal software is the single biggest threat that faces Information Technology in any market. No one will invest in a market where copyright is not protected, it discourages local entrepreneurs and international companies alike. If any country is to develop a viable IT industry, it has to fight illegal software efficiently and promote copyright awareness with the public."LG LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION FLATRON TV-VCR
keralamonitor.com
Dubai: Global digital leader, LG Electronics, is out to capture the number one slot for TV sales throughout the Middle East and North Africa with the regional launch of a new addition to its award-winning Flatron range. The new 21-inch Flatron TV and VCR combines the Korean giant's evolutionary flat screen technology with a state-of-the art long-play VCR in one unit.
"Customer research shows that there is considerable demand for a combined television and VCR with hi-fi stereo sound and we have responded with this new unit," said Mr S.S. Lee, Digital Display Manager, LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa Operations.
"Our Flatron televisions are proven to be distortion free, line-on-screen free and eye-strain free, even after lengthy viewing and now with the built-in VCR it's even easier for viewers to record and watch their favourite programmes using a single remote control," he added.
LG's built-in VCR has two tuners and four heads for perfect picture quality reproduction and high-speed rewind. It features on-screen set-up and can also replay NTSC tapes.LG, which currently tops the MENA TV supplier rankings, last year recorded a regional seven per cent increase in TV sales, which included around 203,000 Flatron TVs.
"Regional TV sales last year amounted to US $237 million," said Hamad Malik, Senior Marketing Manager. "With this new addition to our product line and the recent introduction of our revolutionary 40-inch, 42-inch and the world's largest 60-inch Flatron Plasma televisions, we are targeting a further 14% increase in the current year, taking sales to US $270 million." Conventional TVs accounted for the largest share of sales, valued at US $187.2 million with Flatron TVs registering US $42.9 million and projection TV sales totalling US $6.9 million.
