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through litigation. As the efforts expanded, SPA increasingly focused on
education as well as enforcement.
The fact is, as more companies and individuals are getting aware of the Copyright
laws as well as about the consequences of violating these laws, the issue of software
piracy is getting highlighted. In addition to anti-piracy efforts within the United States,
SPA is expanding its efforts internationally as well.
Thus, thanks to the pioneering efforts by Ken Wasch and Software
Publishers Association, around the world, businesses are taking notice
of software piracy as an important issue which they need to address.
However, have these results, especially litigation, brought any positive
results? “Yes,” says Mr.Wasch. “Our experience within the United States
has been very successful. SPA has had over one thousand and three hundred cases to
date. We have pursued cases against corporations, bulletin board systems and individuals
pirating software,” he adds.
Regarding litigations, SPA’s largest settlement was with Parametrix, a Seattle engineering
firm, for $350,000.
In a recent case, Boscov’s department store made a settlement for $161,000!
In addition, SPA has handled several, more confidential audit cases, some of which have
reached settlements of close to half a million dollars.
One of the important means of receiving information on suspected case of piracy
has been the SPA’s Anti-Piracy Hotline. The SPA Anti-Piracy Hotline receives
approximately 30 calls a day from both Canada and the United States. These calls
come from temporary employees, consultants, business associates,
current and former employees of the companies being reported and
member companies. From these reports, the SPA further investigates
any alleged copyright violations within a corporation and, if
appropriate, takes action. In 1993, SPA took action against 281
organizations.
Thanks to the SPA, the problem of software piracy is improving in the United
States. SPA statistics show that within the US, estimated losses due to software piracy fell
from $24 billion in 1990 to $1.5 billion in 1993.
Encouraged by its success in America, SPA is currently expanding its international
anti-piracy efforts. SPA Europe, based in Paris, France, has set up its own
Would you steal a software
package from a retail store or a shop?
Of course not. You would not
even think about it? So what makes
software ”copying” right?
