The Business Software Alliance (BSA), with the backing of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is launching a three-month amnesty, beginning on 1 February, to allow companies to legalise their software.
BSA chairman Andrew Lindstrom says the organisation took the decision to grant a "truce" after conducting an awareness campaign with KPMG, where 5 000 companies were interviewed about software asset management policies.
"While most companies appear to be ethical, KPMG interviews revealed that 55% of companies did not have software asset management policies in place. This, along with the deliberate use of illegal software in SA, resulted in 34% piracy rate in 2002, down 4% from the previous year," he says.
While this is better than the global (39%) and Africa (almost half) piracy rate, Lindstrom says the figure is still unacceptable.
"We hope to reduce the piracy rate by 2.5% over four years, which will result in the creation of 3 300 jobs. The 90-day truce period will be a window of opportunity where companies can become legal without having to face prosecution or penalties for software violations prior to April 2004 (providing they are not already under investigation)," he says.
Lana van Zyl, the DTI`s director of commercial investigation, says the department has thrown its weight behind the BSA, as the enforcing of software copyright protection will help boost the country`s economic development.
"By reducing the rate of piracy by 10% over the next four years, the economy could benefit by as much as R12.8 billion. Additionally, R784 million in tax revenues will be gained by 2006," she says.
Lindstrom says the BSA will fund the full cost of the campaign. While the DTI is not contributing financially, he says its backing is important to the BSA`s efforts to eradicate the use of illegal software.
"The endorsement of the campaign by DTI and their support means a great deal. We will be working closely with them in terms of putting forward proposals to modify legislation. They will also provide backing in criminal piracy cases where government prosecutes offenders."
To register for the amnesty, companies can contact the BSA through its Web site, by e-mailing info@bsa.co.za, or by phoning its toll-free line on 0800 110 447.
Companies have to fill out a form and submit a letter with the company letterhead from a senior member of the organisation stating they wish to legalise software. Once companies have contacted the BSA and registered to have their software licensed, Lindstrom says retailers and channel partners for the relevant software vendors will be sent to the company to help it become compliant.
If companies register before 30 April, they will then have until 31 May to complete the process. "After the truce, it`s business as usual and companies will again face serious penalties for software violations."
Lindstrom says the BSA has collected over R42 million in settlements over the past three years and R3 million in the past three months. Its biggest settlement was with the Post Office for over R711 000.
A television and print advertising campaign has been launched and letters will be sent to around 150 000 businesses informing them they have the opportunity to legalise unlicensed software.
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