Report software piracy, get a shot at $1 million
A software industry group that has become well known for its high-profile antipiracy campaigns and crackdowns is now offering up to $1 million to tipsters who divulge the juiciest copyright infringement incidents in their workplaces.
The Business Software Alliance announced on Monday that between July and October, it will be multiplying fivefold the maximum incentive currently offered through its almost 2-year-old "rewards" program. The effort is designed to encourage whistleblowers to report unlicensed software use by their businesses--which, BSA reminds us in its press release, can carry as much as $150,000 in fines and cost the United States more than $7 billion last year alone.
"Reporting software piracy is the right thing to do and BSA is pleased to reward individuals who come forward with credible information," Jenny Blank, the organization's director of enforcement, said in a statement. BSA's members include Microsoft, Adobe and Autodesk.
For me, the operative phrase in the reward offer is "up to," which begs the question, what sort of tip would qualify for that jackpot?
The short answer is, the reward is at BSA's "sole discretion," according to its terms and conditions. It's also supposed to be tied to the monetary value of the settlement or damages paid by a company in connection with the piracy claims.
Although the BSA has already been boasting rewards of "up to $200,000" since last year, a peek at their online press release archive indicates that hasn't even come close to happening yet. In fact, the organization has only announced one reward--last July, when it handed out a combined total of $15,500 to three individuals based on their reports, which prompted investigations and settlements.
A BSA representative told CNET News.com on Monday that the organization has since issued awards at about double that amount but said it was generally not BSA's policy to disclose the reward numbers.
Meanwhile, the industry group says that thanks to the program, it has settled with hundreds of companies and taken in nearly $22 million since fall 2005.
I agree with the author, I am very skeptical that one would be fairly/generously compensated for dropin? a dime on your employer, and in the process losing your job, or becoming a pariah. It?s not in the BSA?s interests to be generous when doling out funds.
I extend here my own offer: I'll help anyone who contacts me here replace their proprietary software with open alternatives so they don't have to put up with crap like this. Free f/l oss consulting.
ethana2@gmail.com
And not all of it requires transition, either. kde can behave like windows or macs, I have a vista theme, transparency and all, many apps have versions designed to cater to users of their primary proprietary competitors, etc. There are emulators and virtual machines for stuff you absolutely cannot do without... Most of it runs on every major platform out there, too. By now, I have most of the same apps on windows and linux on my dual boot system, and firefox stays synced between them with FEBE... (Linux can read ntfs)
Free/Libre Open Source Software is the pipe dream that came true. I'd take as much advantage of it as possible. Save yourself some money, some dignity, all that.
So if you, being a small-business-employee, want to get your company bankrubt and want everbody except for yourselve to get financial troubles, do go ahead and turn your boss in. ;-)
(Sorry for occasional typos)
use your million wisely, because you won't have a good job
refrence after that!
- by destroyedlife February 21, 2009 1:59 PM PST
- Think carefully before you report software piracy. My employer pirated ETemplate software, which is used in the countertop industry. The only person to be punished for that was me. I've been slapped with a multi-million dollar civil suit for libel. I'm going to probably lose my home, and everything I own because I can't afford a lawyer, and nobody seems to care about the piracy.
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