The Tax Administration and Microsoft Montenegro, with support of the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica and AmCham Montenegro, have agreed to realize joint educational activities in order to intensify the cooperation and raise awareness about the intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in Montenegro. The goal of these activities is to prevent the usage of illegal software, as well as to gain more efficient control of the software trade with respect to taxation.

The cooperation will begin in April 2016. It will encompass trainings for the Tax Administration officials about the IPR protection, opportunities for using Microsoft tools in order to modernize the business processes in Tax Administration, efficient control of e-commerce, as well as the activities directed to raising public awareness about the importance of using licensed software and information technology.

The Director of the Tax Administration, Mr. Miomir Mugosa, stated that unauthorized copying, reproduction, distribution and software usage represent one of the most significant threats for developing the global, as well as the local IT industry, which negatively affects our economy as a whole and the development of the information society and achieving competitive advantage on the national and international market.

The U.S. Embassy, AmCham and Microsoft have a common goal regarding the IPR protection. The U.S. Embassy stated their strong support for the cooperation between Microsoft and Tax Administration, other inspections and Montenegrin IT companies on raising awareness about the software piracy i.e. the protection of intellectual property rights.

Ms. Milica Dragojevic, the Acting Executive Director of AmCham Montenegro, said that IPR protection is one of the key priorities in AmCham since its establishment. The IDC research stating that 2/3 of the total software in Montenegro is illegal serves as an indicator of the extent the Montenegrin budget is damaged due to this cause. Likewise, the private sector is the one which endures the illegal competition, so we need to act united in combating the grey market in this area. Together with our partners in this project, we will continue to conduct trainings for representatives of the market and tax inspections to enable them to recognize illegal software, as well as the activities on raising awareness between business subjects when it comes to software piracy.

Mr. Oliver Obradovic, the Country Manager for Microsoft Montenegro, considers the planned joint activities are necessary, having in mind the results of the IDC research which indicates that Montenegro is in the group of countries with the highest piracy rate in Europe (over 75%). Likewise, he believes these activities will have positive effects on the IT sector development in Montenegro, as well as the economic development of the country in general.

This cooperation is based on Montenegro’s strategic goals, Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Montenegro and Microsoft Montenegro, in order to provide support in using modern technologies in public sector, consistent implementation of the legislation related to intellectual property and harmonizing this legislation with the EU Acquis and the best international practice.