Business Software Alliance Piracy

[LinuxIdiot]

Has anyone recieved a letter from this org. calling for an audit of your network? I have a friend who recieved a letter stating he needed to do an audit of his business *even tho he doesnt run a business*. The letter was made out to him and only him at his home address.

 

[Night201]

That weird. I never got one at home. But at work, I had to do an audit last fall to make sure we were complient and purchase any software that we didn't have licenses for. We are complient. Is he scared or anything?

 

[yowolabi]

I'm pretty sure that the BSA can't legally order you to do anything. They just give out a certification that you're a good company or something. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Tell him to throw it out, and let them come for him.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Yea he is scared I was like 0_o i didnt know what to tell him, cuz if he gets in trouble with this so does his father :Q

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I'm pretty sure that the BSA can't legally order you to do anything. They just give out a certification that you're a good company or something. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Tell him to throw it out, and let them come for him.

In the letter it mentioned that there could be fines up to $150,000

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot
if he gets in trouble with this so does his father :Q

Why? Is he supplying some software?

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot

Originally posted by: yowolabi I'm pretty sure that the BSA can't legally order you to do anything. They just give out a certification that you're a good company or something. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Tell him to throw it out, and let them come for him.

In the letter it mentioned that there could be fines up to $150,000

I think that is per incident too.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Becuz he installed some software on his fathers machine

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot
Becuz he installed some software on his fathers machine

So uninstall it and go legit. If he doesn't want to do that, then he can enjoy his stay in Federal-Pound-Me-In-The-Ass prison.

 

[Night201]

Tell him to whip out his credit card and start buying. It's a good feeling when you OWN the software. There is a nice sense of comfort.

 

[BatmanNate]

My company prints and mails those. I might just have had a hand in delivering your fate, hoo hah hah ha hah! The BSA is just MS and Adobe rattling sabres trying to coerce people into paying them under the guise of offering amnesty. They even offer a free program to determine if your company is using illigitimate software. :Q

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I'm pretty sure that the BSA can't legally order you to do anything. They just give out a certification that you're a good company or something. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Tell him to throw it out, and let them come for him.

In the letter it mentioned that there could be fines up to $150,000

The BSA is not a government entity. They do not have the power to levy fines. They could sue your friend or report him to the proper authorities, but that's about it.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

heh I know I told him to just go buy windows home edition but that damned thing is 200 bucks :-\ not to mention the mp3s he has

I think he is thinking of going linux to get them off his back just in case

 

[nord1899]

The BSA can audit a company and will do so with the assistance of US Marshalls. If during the audit, you are found to be in non-compliance, not only do you have to pay for said software and the fines, you have to pay for the audit.

The BSA is kind of like the RIAA and MPAA for the software industry, except they go after corps rather than individuals.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

But still why would my friend who is not regged as a company recieve a letter made out to his name?

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot
But still why would my friend who is not regged as a company recieve a letter made out to his name?

They made a mistake. It happens. One thing i'm sure of is that they can't come to his house demanding to see if the software on his computer is paid for.

 

[nord1899]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot
But still why would my friend who is not regged as a company recieve a letter made out to his name?

Well normaly companies get them due to disgruntled employees (or ex-employees). So in your case, no friggin clue.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: nord1899
The BSA can audit a company and will do so with the assistance of US Marshalls. If during the audit, you are found to be in non-compliance, not only do you have to pay for said software and the fines, you have to pay for the audit.

The BSA is kind of like the RIAA and MPAA for the software industry, except they go after corps rather than individuals.

1. This case involves an individual, not a corp.
2. Does the BSA conduct these audits randomly? If they use the assistance of the US Marshalls (US Treasury Dept), do they not have to have some form of evidence and a warrant beforehand?

 

[LinuxIdiot]

Well thanks for some responses guess that might make him feel a lil better but still gonna tell him to go buy the software

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: LinuxIdiot
Well thanks for some responses guess that might make him feel a lil better but still gonna tell him to go buy the software

He should anyway.

 

[spiridion]

i've gotten a couple of these letters. sometimes when i sign up for free stuff i put a fictitious company on there and that's who the letter is addressed to. the letter looks really professional. this was a long time ago. nothing ever came of it. i wouldn't worry. of course tomorrow the fbi could bust down my door and arrest me. like i said don't worry about it.