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BSA extends software amnesty

By Stephen Whitford, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 26 Apr 2004

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has extended its three-month amnesty by a month to 31 May in order to give companies more time to legalise their software.

Andrew Lindstr"om, BSA chairman, says today`s announcement marks World Intellectual Property Day, instituted by the World Intellectual Property Organisation to highlight the importance of protecting intellectual property assets such as software.

"Since the 90-day truce between the BSA and companies was announced in January, we have seen a dramatic 100% rise in the number of calls received by the hotline, with more than 4 000 hits on the BSA website, and online registrations are being submitted continuously.

"However, many companies have expressed that they need more time to complete an extensive audit of software, and have therefore requested an extension to the truce," he says.

The BSA says the larger companies who have offices throughout the country have struggled to complete the audit in time, especially with the elections being held in April and all the public holidays. Companies that have applied for amnesty include financial, religious and professional institutions, retailers, private individuals, medical aid companies, government departments, town councils, mining companies and promotional companies. The BSA will make a statement on the final registration figures at the end of the extension.

The amnesty period is a window of opportunity where companies can become legal without having to face prosecution or penalties for software violations prior to 31 May 2004 (providing they are not already under investigation).

Lindstr"om says the BSA hopes to reduce the piracy rate by 2.5% over four years, which could result in the creation of 3 300 jobs.

"We look forward to the cooperation of companies in using licensed software in their business as this is beneficial to the economy. According to an IDC study, a 10-point reduction in software piracy could add R12.8 billion to the economy, create more than 3 300 high wage jobs (caused by increased sales within the channel and the expected increase in local software development) and generate more than R784 million in new tax revenues," says Lindstr"om.

Local companies can register online for the truce on software piracy by visiting www.bsa.co.za or by calling the toll-free hotline number 0800 110 447.

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