BSA Announces: Phoenix Manufacturing Company Pays $135,000 to Software Watchdog; Raid Reveals Unlicensed Software.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2000

The Business Software Alliance today announced that it has settled a lawsuit alleging piracy of Adobe, Autodesk, Corel and Microsoft software with DuraSwitch Industries, Inc., after an unannounced raid by the BSA and U.S. Marshals.

Under the terms of the settlement, DuraSwitch Industries, a manufacturing company based in Phoenix, AZ, has agreed to pay BSA $135,000, delete software for which licenses could not be located, purchase replacement software and strengthen its software management practices.

The case began with a call to BSA's anti-piracy hotline 1-888 NO PIRACY. BSA filed a complaint for copyright infringement in federal district court and the court ordered the raid of DuraSwitch Industries. The court also entered a temporary restraining order preventing DuraSwitch Industries from deleting software from its computers.

"Businesses need to examine their software management programs and prevent software piracy in the workplace," said Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement for the BSA. "When the BSA knocks on your door, it's too late to come clean."

The BSA encourages businesses to take the following steps to ensure legal use of software:

-- Adopt a corporate policy on compliance with copyright laws;

-- Audit company computers; document software purchases and

understand licensing agreements; and

-- Educate management and employees of their obligations under copyright laws.

Recently, the Business Software Alliance announced the results of a state-by-state analysis of software piracy in the United States and the overall outcome of the study reveals piracy's continued negative impact on our nation's software industry and economy.

According to the study conducted for BSA by International Planning & Research Group (IPR), in 1999 software piracy cost the United States $3.2 billion in retails sales of business software applications and 106,000 jobs. The national average is 25.1 percent and Arizona's piracy rate is 30.4 percent.(a)

BSA stresses the importance and benefits of a sound software management program. Any organization can request tools and information such as audit software, training videos and a "Guide to Software Management" at no cost. For additional information, visit BSA's website at www.bsa.org.

(a) 1999 U.S. Software Piracy by State conducted by the International Planning and Research

Since 1988, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has been the voice of the world's leading software developers before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world.

BSA educates computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Corel Corporation, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates and Symantec. BSA website: www.bsa.org. U.S. Anti-piracy hotline: 1-888-NO-PIRACY.