“Go To Jail, Directly To Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200.”
Are your employees playing Russian Roulette with your business? When was the last time you checked your organization’s network for unlicensed software?
Here’s some eye opening information from “The Business Software Alliance” (BSA) that is a must read …
Thirty-five percent of the world's software is pirated. Software piracy is not only a crime, but it can actually damage your computers and data.
Most people would never even consider stealing something that did not belong to them, but copying or using software without authorization is in fact, stealing. You are breaking the law.
Virtually all commercial computer software is protected by U.S. copyright laws, U.S. Code 17 and 18. The “end user licensing agreement”, most often, clearly states that you have the right to load the software onto a single computer and make one backup copy. In other words, if you copy, distribute or install the software in any way that the licensing prohibits, you will be in violation of federal copyright laws.
“I’ll take my chances; they aren’t after the little guys … “
Companies worldwide are being fined tens of thousands of dollars when caught with more copies of Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft, Symantec and other software programs on their computers than they can provide valid licensing for. Recent fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands have been levied in some cases, and then there is the possibility of going to jail, just to make things a bit scarier.
The software police have arrived and their guns are loaded …
Here’s some eye opening information from “The Business Software Alliance” (BSA) that is a must read …
Thirty-five percent of the world's software is pirated. Software piracy is not only a crime, but it can actually damage your computers and data.
Most people would never even consider stealing something that did not belong to them, but copying or using software without authorization is in fact, stealing. You are breaking the law.
Virtually all commercial computer software is protected by U.S. copyright laws, U.S. Code 17 and 18. The “end user licensing agreement”, most often, clearly states that you have the right to load the software onto a single computer and make one backup copy. In other words, if you copy, distribute or install the software in any way that the licensing prohibits, you will be in violation of federal copyright laws.
“I’ll take my chances; they aren’t after the little guys … “
Companies worldwide are being fined tens of thousands of dollars when caught with more copies of Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft, Symantec and other software programs on their computers than they can provide valid licensing for. Recent fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands have been levied in some cases, and then there is the possibility of going to jail, just to make things a bit scarier.
The software police have arrived and their guns are loaded …
Just how serious are BSA and the other industry watchdog organizations? Well if you get caught, here’s the deal:
- Each non-licensed software application is one violation of The Federal Copyright Law - Fines can range from $30,000 to $250,000 per title and the possibility of federal prison is an option that may be imposed.
- You will pay all audit expenses if BSA audits your company. So just think about all the transportation and incidental expenses for the individuals involved - at least one person from each major software vendor involved; multiple auditors; all the BSA staff they care to send; and lawyers - LOTS of lawyers.
- You willl also pay all the legal fees and be responsible for the downtime your company incurs while the audit is being performed. You will have to pay to remove all software from your systems and for a re-audit to ensure all violations have been corrected. This alone will cost over twice the retail value of every copy of every software product you cannot provide valid licensing for.
- Additionally, you will incur the cost, in time and personnel, for all software to be reconfigured back onto your systems and be required to set up and maintain an entire corporate infrastructure devoted to remain in compliance in the future. You will also be required to pay to implement a discovery tool and a database/repository to track software utilization and license documents.
- You will then have to appoint, empower, and support an employee who will monitor compliance, provide employee training and maintain your systems.
- And if that’s not enough, BSA has the option to issue a press release and tell the world that you were caught using software outside your contractual commitments.
- Your personal/professional world will be impacted. How do you phrase the resume entry "Personally cost former employer $300,000 and exposure to international negative publicity as a result of a software piracy settlement"?
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t forget the possibility of “Going To Jai,: Going Directly To Jail, Not Passing Go and Not Collecting $200”. You absolutely, positively need to perform a self-audit to protect yourself and your company.
Jaydien Network Solution
Email Us: info@jaydien.com
Call Us: 877.561.6734
35 Beaverson Blvd, Suite 3A
Brick, NJ 08723
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