Chamber committee approves differentiated interest rates for software companies

The Committee on Science and Technology, Communication and Informatics of the Chamber of Deputies approved, on August 23, the creation of credit incentives for software companies. According to the proposal, the lines of credit maintained by federal financial institutions should practice reduced interest rates for financing the creation or updating of software, provided that the beneficiary company has been registered with the local board of trade for at least one year. ABES expects the project to be approved, in order to encourage the national industry.
 
The proposal provides for a reduction of two percentage points per year in the rate practiced by the institution, if the company is classified as medium or large; and reduction of three percentage points per year in relation to the normal rate, if the company is classified as a micro or small company.
 
The approved text replaces the rapporteur, Deputy Sandro Alex (PSD-PR), for Bill 3684/04, by Deputy Carlos Eduardo Cadoca (PDT-PE), which provided for lines of credit with differentiated rates only for software companies free.
 
The substitute provides that the reduced rates will be increased by one more percentage point when the resources are destined to the creation or updating of free software - defined as a free-use computer program, whose industrial or intellectual property license does not restrict in any way the its execution, distribution and alteration of its original characteristics.
 
“Exclusive support for free solutions can prove to be a risky and unproductive option, as it could negatively affect an industry that is already regularly established and developer of proprietary solutions, which is responsible for maintaining and creating millions of direct and indirect jobs”, justified Sandro Alex .
 
The text also creates the Fundo de Aval with the aim of offering additional guarantees on loans contracted by software companies. The Fund will be managed by a body and in a manner to be defined by the Executive Branch.
 
The project, which is being processed in a conclusive manner, will also be analyzed by the Economic Development, Industry and Commerce commissions; Finance and Taxation (including on the merits); and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship.