We extend our sincere appreciation to you, the member company, for keeping in step with us this past year as a partner of the Korea Software Property Right Council (SPC) along a difficult path of developing the software industry and creating a culture of protecting copyrights. We also thank you, the netizens, who have supported and participated in the activity of the council.
2009 was a year that was more eventful than at any other time, especially with the implementation of the amended copyright law, DDoS crisis, etc. Also, because of the wave of economic depression that hit the entire globe, not only the domestic software industry but also the activity of SPC were somewhat adversely affected. However, looking back, we can see that 2009 was a year when interest about copyright increased more than at other times. The government displayed its commitment to developing the software industry by announcing the ‘Strategy toward a Powerful Software Country” and so on. Moreover, the full fledged release of smart phones offered an opportunity for the entire society to recognize the importance of software.
In this way, 2010 was a year when varied interest and support from people of all walks of life was exhibited in a concentrated manner. Now, SPC is already celebrating its 10th anniversary. After its initial steps forward in May of 2000, SPC has moved ahead without looking back with the belief that protecting copyright is the fundamental step toward the development of the software industry. As a result, we were able to make noticeable accomplishments whereby the rate of illegal copying in early 2000s which stood at nearly 50% was been brought down to almost 40%, and so on, but it is also true that there is still a long way to go.
There is an old saying that goes, “Even the natural scenery changes after 10 years.” If the sweat of diligent labor on the part of SPC for the past 10 years constituted a stage for laying solid stepping stones toward protection of copyrights, then 2010, in which we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of SPC, will become a year when we will reflect upon our past and prepare for another 10 years of activity. Further, we seek to make it the first year of moving toward a country that protects copyrights from a country that infringes upon them.
As such, our council will engage in a campaign and educational activity that are far more diverse and wide ranging than existing activity for copyright protection and will ensure that awareness of copyright protection will take root in our society. Especially, we will secure policy support for protecting and developing the software industry based on an organic communication between the government and related institutes. We ask for your continued encouragement for this year as well.
We wish you, your family, and your company full of happiness and joy for 2010, a year of the tiger.
Thank you.
March 2010
Korea Software Property Right Council
