By Alorie Gilbert, 13 October 2004 07:35
NEWS The Business Software Alliance (BSA) - a trade group supported by Apple, Intuit, Microsoft and about 20 others - has collected $2.2m in out-of-court settlements in its annual software piracy sweep.
The group targets companies that violate software licensing and copyright rules. The BSA claims that 22 per cent of all commercial software licences used in the US alone have not been paid for, costing the industry more than $6.5bn annually.
The group's latest piracy sweep led to settlements with 25 companies. The BSA plans to use the proceeds to fund educational initiatives, such as its campaign to discourage kids from using peer-to-peer networks to swap software, games, music and other copyrighted material.
Alorie Gilbert writes for CNET News.com
Comments
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1. anonymous
There are 2 main reasons for software piracy as you call it. First the price is way to high. Example, Microsoft XP Pro around $800. Really do you think that many people has that kind of money to buy a software like that?
Second, the fact that you only have the right to make 1 copie on 1 computer. Let's say I have 3 PCs at home so i have to buy 3 Microsoft XP Pro: 800*3=$2400. That is a rip-off. I may agree that people who download Microsoft XP Pro and other software are stealing but you cannot translate that to lost revenues since most people would not have the money to buy them.
2. anonymous
I have space for three big limousines in front of my house.
Buts thats 300,000 dollars. No one can afford that its riduculous.
So its OK I just steal them.
Yeh, right.