BSAA serves notice: No business too small
Announcement posted by Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) 20 Nov 2001
Momentum Animation Studios Pty Ltd, a small Melbourne based 3D computer animation studio, has discovered no business is too small to escape the attention of the Business Software Association of Australia, after it reached an out of court settlement for $10,000 with the BSAA for illegal software use.
Momentum was using illegal software including Microsoft Windows 98 and Adobe After Effects 5.0.
According to Chairman of the BSAA, Jim Macnamara, all businesses need to note the risks involved with illegal software use, including small businesses where he said illegal software was rife.
No business is too small when it comes to being caught for software piracy. Momentum has just five employees. They could have easily monitored their software usage, but did not do so and now they have paid the price, Mr Macnamara said.
According to Rachael Perry, Executive Producer at Momentum, the settlement with the BSAA was a hard lesson to learn about software management, but its one that theyve managed to turn into a positive outcome for their organisation.
As a co-developer of our core software tool, Animation Masterby Hash Inc. we are well aware of the problems associated with software piracy, yet we did not focus on the effective management of the other software we were using.
"This has been an expensive lesson for us but weve used the experience to help us update our software management and monitoring systems, implementing additional receipt management and auditing systems. Were now in a position for the future to ensure we run a totally software compliant setup, said Ms Perry.
Mr Macnamara stressed the aggressive stance the BSAA was taking in legal action was backed up by extensive information on its Web site for monitoring and managing software.
We have launched a new e-newsletter with helpful and practical tips and hints. The newsletter can be downloaded free of charge from www.bsaa.com.au, he said.
We would prefer to see businesses take advantage of the wide range of resources and tools available from our website, rather than see them in court, but software copyright owners wont hesitate to take action against companies small or large - who use illegal software, he warned.
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143
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.
Momentum was using illegal software including Microsoft Windows 98 and Adobe After Effects 5.0.
According to Chairman of the BSAA, Jim Macnamara, all businesses need to note the risks involved with illegal software use, including small businesses where he said illegal software was rife.
No business is too small when it comes to being caught for software piracy. Momentum has just five employees. They could have easily monitored their software usage, but did not do so and now they have paid the price, Mr Macnamara said.
According to Rachael Perry, Executive Producer at Momentum, the settlement with the BSAA was a hard lesson to learn about software management, but its one that theyve managed to turn into a positive outcome for their organisation.
As a co-developer of our core software tool, Animation Masterby Hash Inc. we are well aware of the problems associated with software piracy, yet we did not focus on the effective management of the other software we were using.
"This has been an expensive lesson for us but weve used the experience to help us update our software management and monitoring systems, implementing additional receipt management and auditing systems. Were now in a position for the future to ensure we run a totally software compliant setup, said Ms Perry.
Mr Macnamara stressed the aggressive stance the BSAA was taking in legal action was backed up by extensive information on its Web site for monitoring and managing software.
We have launched a new e-newsletter with helpful and practical tips and hints. The newsletter can be downloaded free of charge from www.bsaa.com.au, he said.
We would prefer to see businesses take advantage of the wide range of resources and tools available from our website, rather than see them in court, but software copyright owners wont hesitate to take action against companies small or large - who use illegal software, he warned.
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143
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.