Business Software Alliance Offers Software Grace Period in Seattle; Software Watchdog to Give Businesses in Seven U.S. Cities a Break.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003 The Business Software Alliance (BSA 1. BSA - Business Software Alliance. 2. BSA - Bidouilleurs Sans Argent. ) will launch its Software Grace Period in Seattle, WA, on February 1. During the Grace Period, BSA is giving area businesses a one-month opportunity to review their software programs and acquire the licenses they need to get legal without facing penalties for past infringement imposed by BSA. Between February 1-28, BSA will reach out to more than 600,000 business contacts simultaneously in Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Albuquerque, NM; Dallas, TX; Louisville, KY; Harrisburg, PA and Seattle, WA. "The Business Software Alliance recognizes that, for whatever reason, some businesses may not have managed their software assets properly, but ignoring the problem can lead to substantial financial exposure," said Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement for BSA. "The Grace Period offers businesses a chance to catch up, conduct a software audit and acquire the necessary licenses they need to get legal - penalty-free. This is a great opportunity for businesses to resolve any compliance issues before they become subjects of a BSA investigation." "Software piracy The illegal copying of software for distribution within the organization, or to friends, clubs and other groups, or for duplication and resale. The software industry loses billions of dollars each year to piracy, and although it may seem innocent enough to install an application on a is a very serious problem and one that has profound negative effects on our local economy through loss of sales and revenues for technology companies, and also lost tax revenues for our state taxing authorities," said Kathleen P. Wilcox, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the WSA WSA Web Services Architecture (Bow Street) WSA Wilderness Study Areas WSA Wilbur Smith Associates WSA Washington Software Alliance WSA World Shoe Association WSA Workers Solidarity Alliance (formerly the Washington Software Alliance Washington Software Alliance (WSA) is a prominent technology business association, with approximately 1,000 member companies in Washington state, USA. WSA hosts educational and training events, CEO roundtables, executive seminars, and special interest groups. ). "Everyone is either directly or indirectly hurt by software piracy. In order to ensure continued growth in the technology sector, Seattle businesses must respect the intellectual property and copyright laws that software development depends upon. The Software Grace Period is a great way for companies in our area to review their licensing agreements and make certain they are in compliance without penalty." Businesses in these cities will receive information from BSA on the Grace Period and how to participate. Companies that take part in the Grace Period and take the necessary steps to become fully licensed will be excused from penalties for software violations occurring prior to February 28, 2003(1). These penalties include fines up to $150,000 per copyright work infringed. Over the past 12 years, BSA has collected more than $83 million in penalties from companies using unlicensed software. This is the eleventh BSA legalization LEGALIZATION. The act of making lawful. 2. By legalization, is also understood the act by which a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be lawfully read in evidence. Vide Authentication. program since August 2000. Since that time, BSA has offered its program in more than 45 cities to more than five million businesses. Prior cities include: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, city (1990 pop. 189,126), seat of Kent co., SW central Mich., on the Grand River; inc. 1850. The second largest city in the state, it is a distribution, wholesale, and industrial center for an area that yields fruit, dairy products, farm produce, , Greenville, Huntsville, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Omaha, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Rochester, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa and Tucson. According to a recent state software study, in 2001, software piracy cost Washington nearly $190 million in lost wages and resulted in a tax loss of more than $43 million.(2) Businesses trying to determine whether their organization is using unlicensed software can download the free BSA Software Audit tool at www.bsagrace.com or call the special Grace Period hotline at 877/536-4BSA for additional information. The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal online world. The BSA is the voice of the world's software and Internet industry 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 and cyber security; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates and Symantec. (1) This excludes any organizations already informed of a BSA investigation. See www.bsagrace.com for full rules. (2) Conducted for BSA by International Planning and Research Corporation (IPR IPR Intellectual Property Rights IPR Inprocess/Inprogress Review IPR Industrial Property Rights IPR Institute for Policy Research (Northwestern University and University of Cincinnati) IPR Institute of Public Relations ). |
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