Bangkok--15 Oct--Vero Public Relations
Businesses Using Unlicensed Software Targeted in BSA’s Campaign
With enforcement of software copyrights being ramped up in Thailand and big rewards being dangled for employees who report corporate software piracy, now is an ideal time for business leaders to ensure they are complying with the law in order to stay out of hot water.
Following are five steps that business leaders should take to safeguard their businesses:
- Visit www.stop.in.th or www.bsa.org: Both web sites are loaded with good resources to help guide executives and IT managers through the process of ensuring that the Thai copyright laws are being followed. Both sites contain links, videos, and information helpful to executives fretting about the legitimacy of their software assets.
- Perform a Software Audit: Software audits are helpful to ensure that a company’s software assets match its licenses. Audits are also helpful in finding waste within the IT system. “Sometimes companies are paying for software that they are no longer using,” says Siripat Patrangul, spokesperson, Business Software Alliance. “A software audit is the best way to ensure your software is being used to its maximum potential.”
- Reinforce Staff Policy about Software Use: Illegal downloads by employees can result in copyright violations, even if executives are unaware of the downloads. But by having a written policy that forbids improper employee downloads and clearly communicating this policy to all employees, companies can head off confusion before it becomes an issue.
- Use Genuine Software as a Competitive Advantage: With a 78% rate of software piracy among business users in Thailand, there’s a good chance that the competition is using pirated software. But those companies using genuine software can leverage better productivity and security to gain a competitive advantage over the competition.
- Be Prepared: The crackdown on software piracy officially begins October 15, 2008 with nationwide enforcement actions against companies accused of breaking software copyright laws. Companies will not know they have been targeted until the enforcement authorities arrive on the premises. “Success in business in based on being prepared,” said Patrangul. “This issue is no different. Companies should move quickly to ensure they are only using genuine software.
From January to August 2008, raids were conducted on 39 companies in approximately 15 provinces in all parts of Thailand. Total software violations are valued at approximately 125 million Thai baht. Raided companies are from numerous industries, including manufacture, design, automotive component production, plastics and packaging.
About Business Software Alliance
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Agilent Technologies, Altium, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CA, Cadence Design Systems, Cisco Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Corel, CyberLink, Dassault Syst?mes SolidWorks Corporation, Dell, EMC, Frontline PCB Solutions - An Orbotech Valor Company, HP, IBM, Intel, McAfee, Microsoft, Mindjet, Minitab, Monotype Imaging, NedGraphics, PTC, Quark, Quest Software, SAP, SAS Institute, Siemens, SPSS, Sybase, Symantec, Synopsys, Tekla, The MathWorks and Trend Micro.
For more information please contact:
Artima Tantikul
Vero Public Relations
Tel: +66 (0) 2684 1551
Email:
Brian Griffin
Vero Public Relations
Tel: +66 (0) 2684 1551
Email: [email protected]