AmCham Montenegro, together with our patron member Microsoft, Tax Administration of Montenegro and the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica, hosted today a joint press conference in order to mark the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, April 26. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is one of the crucial pillars of AmCham’s Grey Economy Committee work and therefore, AmCham strongly supports activities in protecting the intellectual property rights on all levels.

The focus of this event was to discuss the issue of software piracy globally and present IDC’s key findings on its scope in Montenegro. Their most recent research shows that 78% of the software in Montenegro is illegal. Therefore, the negative impact which IPR infringement in this area has on Montenegrin economy in terms of taxation, as well as in creating un-fair competition on the market, is the reason why this issue should be in the center of attention of both Government of Montenegro, as well as the private sector.

Mr. Oliver Obradović, Microsoft’s Country Manager in Montenegro, presented the state of IT market in Montenegro and emphasized the negative impact of software piracy on the economy in general. H.E. Margaret A. Uyehara, the U.S. Ambassador in Montenegro, spoke about the potential benefits which the reduction of piracy rate in this area could bring and briefly explained the state of this issue in USA. 

Mr. Miomir Mugoša, Director of the Tax Administration, presented the activities conducted by this institution in combatting software piracy and the potential of the Montenegrin market in terms of acquiring tax revenues in this area. Mr. Marko Miročević, AmCham’s Executive Director, referred to software piracy and illegal trade as a business barrier, which seriously impacts Montenegro’s image with foreign investors. He stressed the importance of creating proper mechanisms to enforce the law implementation in this area. 

AmCham Montenegro will continue to support all activities initiated by Microsoft and Tax Administration in order to prevent and control IPR infringement in Montenegro.