Business Software Alliance Launches 'Software Audit Week' to Help Phoenix Businesses Avoid Software Piracy & Protect Their Networks.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 2003

Survey Reveals Local Businesses' Views on Software Use, Workplace Ethics

To promote good business ethics and educate Phoenix businesses about the risks associated with unlicensed software, the Business Software Alliance (BSA), a global organization that represents the leading commercial software developers, today announced the launch of Software Audit Week for area businesses.

Many Phoenix businesses may not realize their employees are playing "roulette" with their organizations' corporate ethics and computer safety by pirating software. During Software Audit Week, BSA urges businesses to prevent the consequences of "software piracy roulette" by conducting a software audit to ensure that all the software programs installed on their computers are fully licensed. BSA is offering free, downloadable tools and resources as well as a nationwide Web seminar hosted by Internet World magazine.

A recent independent survey of IT professionals and business decision makers in Phoenix(1) reveals that both audiences lack a realistic perspective about piracy at their organizations, indicating the need for more education about proper software management. While a majority of IT professionals and over 40 percent of business decision makers acknowledge that software piracy is at least somewhat common in the workplace, less than 28 percent of IT pros and only 10 percent of business decision makers believe that it occurs in their own organization.

In Arizona, nearly 28 percent of the software used is unlicensed. According to a recent state software study, in 2002, software piracy cost the United States nearly $2 billion in revenue and resulted in a tax loss of more than $1.4 billion.(2)

"Many businesses don't realize that ignoring the problem of unlicensed software can lead to substantial financial exposure as well as the risk of viruses, spyware and security breaches," said Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement for BSA. "Every day, employees download illegal software from the Internet, over-install programs, and buy and install counterfeit or unlicensed products. The research results point to the clear solution - education. Businesses need to help their employees get smart about good software management. Software Audit Week focuses on ensuring good business ethics in the workplace by reminding businesses to conduct a software audit and acquire the necessary licenses they need to get legal."

Phoenix businesses are willing to risk the consequences by playing "software piracy roulette," according to the survey. Nearly 98 percent of business decision makers agree that avoiding piracy is part of good business ethics, yet over one-third support the idea of sharing or swapping software to cut the cost.

Under federal law, each software program infringed may lead to a penalty of up to $150,000, and an organization can be held liable for its employees' actions.

Today, BSA announced settlements with three Phoenix-area companies that paid a combined total of $351,000 to settle claims that they had unlicensed software programs installed on office computers.

"In Phoenix, we have a very vibrant small business community that is so important to the local economy," said Phoenix Chamber of Commerce CEO Valerie Manning. "Many managers may not realize how easily pirated software can infect their organization and the kinds of negative consequences it can have for them and their business. We support the BSA's efforts to prevent piracy and encourage all Phoenix businesses to regularly review the software that exists on their networks."

Businesses trying to determine whether they are using unlicensed software can access free BSA Software Audit tools at www.bsaaudit.com or call the Software Audit Week Hotline at 1-877-536-4BSA for additional information.

To view the Phoenix survey results, please visit www.bsaaudit.com.

The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates consumers on software management and copyright protection, cyber security, trade, e-commerce and other Internet-related issues. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates and Symantec.

(1) Survey of 100 IT professionals and 50 business decision makers conducted for BSA by Ipsos Reid Public Affairs.

(2) Conducted for BSA by International Planning and Research Corporation (IPR).

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    CONTACT: Business Software Alliance
             Debbi Bauman, 202-530-5132
             [e-mail]
                 or
             Lindsay Rubin, 202-775-1401
             [e-mail]

    KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARIZONA
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE E-COMMERCE INTERNET
    SOURCE: Business Software Alliance