Slow learners at Future School
Announcement posted by Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) 20 Feb 2002
Illegal software use results in $40,000 settlement with BSAA
An Australian software development company specialising in educational software for primary and secondary students is the latest organisation to settle with the Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) for software copyright infringements. BKW Investments Pty Ltd, trading as Future School, has paid the BSAA $40,000 in settlement of a claim for illegal use of Microsoft, Adobe and Symantec software.
Future School is an ETO member of the United Nations and a founding member of both the Electronic Education Network (EEN) and the UN Virtual Classroom on the UN Intranet. As the nominated educational content provider for the United Nations, Future School positions itself as major player in the global education marketplace. Its products include the Future School Operating System as well as hundreds of proprietary interactive multimedia CD-ROMs for mathematics, grammar and spelling.
According to BSAA Chairman Jim Macnamara, Future School is a classic case of a company that has carefully developed and protected its own copyright material while, at the same time, ignoring the copyright and license agreements of the BSAA members software it relied on to run its own business.
Directors and managers need to understand that they cannot steal goods physical or intellectual to run their businesses. If they do, they face serious legal and financial risks, Mr Macnamara said.
There are also serious repercussions for the credibility and ethical image of businesses which practice a double standard, he said.
Future School has learned a very expensive lesson and we hope that other businesses will get the message, Mr Macnamara warned.
Future School, which has approximately 30 staff, is based on the NSW Central Coast, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which operates globally in 65 countries.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) 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; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Macromedia, Microsoft, Symantec, and UGS. BSA regional members in Asia include AccTrak21 and Borland.
Future School is an ETO member of the United Nations and a founding member of both the Electronic Education Network (EEN) and the UN Virtual Classroom on the UN Intranet. As the nominated educational content provider for the United Nations, Future School positions itself as major player in the global education marketplace. Its products include the Future School Operating System as well as hundreds of proprietary interactive multimedia CD-ROMs for mathematics, grammar and spelling.
According to BSAA Chairman Jim Macnamara, Future School is a classic case of a company that has carefully developed and protected its own copyright material while, at the same time, ignoring the copyright and license agreements of the BSAA members software it relied on to run its own business.
Directors and managers need to understand that they cannot steal goods physical or intellectual to run their businesses. If they do, they face serious legal and financial risks, Mr Macnamara said.
There are also serious repercussions for the credibility and ethical image of businesses which practice a double standard, he said.
Future School has learned a very expensive lesson and we hope that other businesses will get the message, Mr Macnamara warned.
Future School, which has approximately 30 staff, is based on the NSW Central Coast, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which operates globally in 65 countries.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) 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; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Macromedia, Microsoft, Symantec, and UGS. BSA regional members in Asia include AccTrak21 and Borland.