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Software reseller gets prison sentence for fraud
PIRACY/COPYRIGHT
NEWS
European piracy costing $3.5 billion to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), A ccording illegally copied and counterfeit software is costing the European software industry approximately $3.5 billion per year. "Piracy is an endemic problem that not only spells long-term trouble for developers of all sizes, but it could also inhibit Europe's ability to compete internationally and retard the growth of our IT industries and o u r economies," said Derek Gray, spokesman for the BSA president's committee.
"the market in the US and Canada is losing approximately $3 billion"
Also according to Gray, the market in the US and Canada is losing approximately $3 billion, Asia/Pacific $4 billion and in Latin America losses annually are estimated to be $1 billion. Taken on a worldwide scale, piracy is estimated to cost $12 billion in lost revenue.
Software pirates make bold apology Singapore, as part of a settlement determined with InMicrosoft, 10 computer shops accused of selling pirated software had to have a full-page apology printing in The Straits Times. The settlement included the public apology, monetary compensation, the donation of computers to charity and a written promise not to infringe Microsoft's copyright again. The firms were discovered to be bundling unauthorized copies of Microsoft programs along with the computers they sold at their shops. The settlement involved paying Microsoft a total of $225 000 in compensation. Microsoft is said to have decided on this settlement, rather than taking the companies to court, because it was much quicker. The company also hoped that the 10 shops would become legitimate dealers for its products in the future. Members of the public were said to have tipped Microsoft off and an undercover agent went to the shops to try to buy computers running with illegally-loaded software.
Computer Fraud & Security April 1997 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
To further attempt to combat the effects of piracy, the BSA has announced the launch of a broad-based campaign of education and enforcement to reduce piracy on a Pan-European basis. The first phase of the enhanced awareness efforts will be a new advertising campaign that seeks to raise awareness about software theft while educating businesses and the general public on how to correct or avoid it.
The BSA intends to increase on its successes so far. In 1996 the BSA Europe received $3.5 million in settlements and l e g a l i z e d software; fielded 18 480 hotline calls that led to 1735 channel leads; completed 809 end-user actions and 76 end-user raids. For further information, contact Nikki March or Maureen Murphy on +44 17l 379 3404.
Software reseller gets prison sentence for fraud managing director of the Vogue Computer T heCompany Ltd and WDS Direct Ltd, Chris McLean, has been given a two and a half year prison sentence following an investigation by the UK's Hertfordshire Fraud Squad. He was found guilty on four separate counts of fraudulent trading. The investigations began under the Novell Anti-Piracy Group in 1994 following reports of illegal software duplication. This investigation revealed that WDS Direct Ltd had sold 46 copies of Novell NetWare to W a n d s w o r t h B o r o u g h Council Education Department. It was discovered that all the copies of the software had identical serial numbers.
NEWS
European piracy costing $3.5 billion to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), A ccording illegally copied and counterfeit software is costing the European software industry approximately $3.5 billion per year. "Piracy is an endemic problem that not only spells long-term trouble for developers of all sizes, but it could also inhibit Europe's ability to compete internationally and retard the growth of our IT industries and o u r economies," said Derek Gray, spokesman for the BSA president's committee.
"the market in the US and Canada is losing approximately $3 billion"
Also according to Gray, the market in the US and Canada is losing approximately $3 billion, Asia/Pacific $4 billion and in Latin America losses annually are estimated to be $1 billion. Taken on a worldwide scale, piracy is estimated to cost $12 billion in lost revenue.
Software pirates make bold apology Singapore, as part of a settlement determined with InMicrosoft, 10 computer shops accused of selling pirated software had to have a full-page apology printing in The Straits Times. The settlement included the public apology, monetary compensation, the donation of computers to charity and a written promise not to infringe Microsoft's copyright again. The firms were discovered to be bundling unauthorized copies of Microsoft programs along with the computers they sold at their shops. The settlement involved paying Microsoft a total of $225 000 in compensation. Microsoft is said to have decided on this settlement, rather than taking the companies to court, because it was much quicker. The company also hoped that the 10 shops would become legitimate dealers for its products in the future. Members of the public were said to have tipped Microsoft off and an undercover agent went to the shops to try to buy computers running with illegally-loaded software.
Computer Fraud & Security April 1997 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
To further attempt to combat the effects of piracy, the BSA has announced the launch of a broad-based campaign of education and enforcement to reduce piracy on a Pan-European basis. The first phase of the enhanced awareness efforts will be a new advertising campaign that seeks to raise awareness about software theft while educating businesses and the general public on how to correct or avoid it.
The BSA intends to increase on its successes so far. In 1996 the BSA Europe received $3.5 million in settlements and l e g a l i z e d software; fielded 18 480 hotline calls that led to 1735 channel leads; completed 809 end-user actions and 76 end-user raids. For further information, contact Nikki March or Maureen Murphy on +44 17l 379 3404.
Software reseller gets prison sentence for fraud managing director of the Vogue Computer T heCompany Ltd and WDS Direct Ltd, Chris McLean, has been given a two and a half year prison sentence following an investigation by the UK's Hertfordshire Fraud Squad. He was found guilty on four separate counts of fraudulent trading. The investigations began under the Novell Anti-Piracy Group in 1994 following reports of illegal software duplication. This investigation revealed that WDS Direct Ltd had sold 46 copies of Novell NetWare to W a n d s w o r t h B o r o u g h Council Education Department. It was discovered that all the copies of the software had identical serial numbers.