MyOffice CEO: Parallel import, piracy impede Russian software devt

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Jun 5 (PRIME) -- Parallel import of software and piracy are the main obstacles for development of Russian programs, corporate software developer MyOffice head Pavel Kalyakin told PRIME in an interview published on June 3.

“In commercial, mainly small and medium-sized business, piracy is the key story,” Kalyakin said.

“We have recently organized a meeting for some partners, including those working with small and medium-sized business, and discussed these matters. Everyone agreed that piracy together with parallel import of foreign software are the main reasons pulling down progress of the Russian IT market.”

The executive also said that large state companies and state entities that delay their transition to local software risk missing the 2025 deadline set by the government, because the process could take more time than they expect.

“Our practice shows that it takes large clients about a year and a half from the beginning of discussion of the goals to install local software to the moment when the companies’ staff start working directly on new products. This time is needed to check everything and test, understand whether the programs are compatible with the hardware,” Kalyakin said.

He added that business and officials often underestimate the difficulty of the task. “Since it will be forbidden to exploit foreign software from January 1, 2025, Russian companies should move faster,” the executive said.

Kalyakin said that schools and universities should also use local software. “The deadline of switching to local software is set for 2025. It means that the graduates, specialists only with the knowledge of Microsoft products will not be in demand in two years,” he added.

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