Recently, Open Forum of Cambodia conducted small survey on using computer software amongst local and international non-governmental organizations in Cambodia. 71 local and international NGOs were chose to make interview.
According to summarized findings, only 12.7 percent of NGOs which was selected for interview have been using licensed software, most of them are international NGOs, 11.3% in comparison with local NGOs, only1.4%. NGOs which use licensed software are because their head-office in oversea and donors to require using standard licensed software.
In responding, 40.8% of respondents are using unlicensed software. For their reasons for using unlicensed software, it is easy to buy and too cheap. By the way, they have habit to use it without law enforcement.
Interviewed respondents support the implementation of Intellectual Property Law (IP law in an attempt to protect software developers in Cambodia. At the mean time, they expressed concern that the enforcement of IP law is obstacle to students for practicing their study. On the other hand, they suggest implementing laws and finding negotiation in order to affordable licensed software price for NGOs and Education sector.
Click here to download Executive Summary of Findings in English.
Click here to download Executive Summary of Findings in Khmer.
I bet this is very critical information that we should know about. However, i guess we cannot use all the licensed software in Cambodia. It is too expensive for Cambodian, but year NGOs should be the lead to support the usage of original ones.