Business Software Alliance Offers Software Grace Period in Tampa; Software Watchdog to Give Businesses in Five U.S. Cities a Break.Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002 The Business Software Alliance (BSA 1. BSA - Business Software Alliance. 2. BSA - Bidouilleurs Sans Argent. ) will launch its Software Grace Period in Tampa, FL on November 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 November 1st-30th, BSA will reach out to more than 200,000 business contacts simultaneously in Cincinnati, OH, Pittsburgh, PA; Tampa, FL; Tucson, AZ and Greenville/Spartanburg/Anderson, SC. "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." 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 November 30, 2002 (1). These penalties include fines up to $150,000 per copyright work infringed. Over the past 11 years, BSA has collected more than $78 million in penalties from companies using unlicensed software. This is the 10th 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 40 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, , 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 and Tulsa. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a recently released state software study, in 2001, 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 cost Florida more than $212 million in lost wages and resulted in a tax loss of more than $67 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 1-877-536-4BSA 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 Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, Symantec and Unigraphics Solutions (EDS (Electronic Data Systems, Plano, TX, www.eds.com) Founded in 1962 by H. Ross Perot (independent candidate for the President of the U.S. in 1992), EDS is the largest outsourcing and data processing services organization in the country. ). (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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