Re: Business Software Alliance

On Tue, 29 Oct 2002 2:17AM -0500, Dan Ballard wrote:
> The Business Software Alliance recently sent a client notice that it
> had information the client had unlawfully copied a long list of
> software products. The BSA requested the client engage in an audit
> and report back its results.

They merely *requested*? They usually demand.

> Does anyone have first hand experience with the BSA? Specifically,
> does anyone know how the BSA gathers the facts justifying its
> allegations of infringment? I need to decide whether this notice is
> merely a generic notice or if it is specific to this client.

The BSA has a toll-free hotline where they take anonymous tips. They actively encourage disgruntled and terminated employees to turn in their employer.

> Periodic software audits are, of course, a normal part of good business
> practice and I am not offended at their suggestion the client engage in
> one. I am more than alittle reluctant, however, to share the results.

Especially with this notice, it's important to do a thorough inspection. The BSA can be quite strict in terms of what proof they find acceptable. It can be difficult for the company to proove that they purchased sufficient licenses to the satisfaction of the BSA. The usual outcome of a BSA audit is the company writing a check for the full retail price of each copy the BSA concludes is unlicensed.

They're really something of an extortion outfit. Any conversation they have will be for the purpose of increasing the number your client eventually writes on the check.

Roy Murphy \ CSpice: A Mailing List for Clergy Spouses murphy@panix.com \ http://www.panix.com/~murphy/CSpice.html Received on Tue Oct 29 2002 - 12:39:30 GMT