BSA proposes software piracy guidelines for auction sites

From...

by Todd R. Weiss

(IDG) -- A vendor group that's targeting software piracy has issued a set of proposed business guidelines for online auction sites, a month after publicizing a sting operation that resulted in lawsuits against 13 individuals for allegedly auctioning pirated or counterfeit applications.

The Washington-based Business Software Alliance (BSA) also said Amazon.com's auction Web site is the first to meet the standards outlined in the proposed guidelines. The BSA, which includes Microsoft and other large software vendors among its members, now hopes to get other auction sites to follow Amazon's lead.

IDG.net INFOCENTER Computerworld main page Computerworld's topic-oriented communities Computerworld's IT career center Free daily newsletters Related IDG.net Stories BSA targets software piracy on Web auction sites Software CEOs lobby for copyrights E-Book industry warned of piracy threat Features Cool gifts for cool nerds Mastering e-commerce by degrees Fast-track training puts nontechies in IT jobs

Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement at the BSA, said the voluntary guidelines can protect buyers and sellers who use online auctions from the possibility of piracy-related legal action, in addition to benefitting software vendors. "We think this is an area where there should be a shared interest," Kruger said.

The guidelines ask online auction sites to adopt clearly posted online policies forbidding sellers from offering pirated or counterfeit software, and to develop procedures for actively reviewing their software listings. In addition, the BSA is calling for auction sites to post warnings and related information to advise users of the potential dangers of buying illegal software, including the possibility of viruses and the lack of warranties and support.

Officials at Seattle-based Amazon.com couldn't be reached for comment.

The BSA claims that more than 90 percent of the software sold on auction sites is pirated. Last month, the group filed a series of lawsuits in the U.S. and Europe against people who it claimed had illegally sold pirated software through online auction sites. The 13 U.S. defendants face possible damages of up to $150,000 for each product they allegedly infringed upon, according to the BSA.

Resolutions for smart online buyers
November 29, 2000
Analysis: eBay fraud lawsuit raises questions
November 7, 2000
Digital-copyright rule seen as victory for entertainment industry
November 1, 2000
FTC to study software-licensing practices
October 24, 2000
Study: U.S. reads e-books, but won't pay
August 30, 2000

BSA targets software piracy on Web auction sites
(Computerworld)
Software CEOs lobby for copyrights
(Network World Fusion)
E-Book industry warned of piracy threat
(IDG.net)
Microsoft unleashes piracy police: Are you safe?
(LinuxWorld)
U.S. could face 'Pearl Harbor' in cyberspace
(PCWorld.com)
Cyberattacks against Pentagon on the rise
(Computerworld)
Under siege
(The Industry Standard)
Proposed cybercrime laws stir debate at conference
(Computerworld)

BSA

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.