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From: ESR@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (Ed Russell)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Turning someone in for software piracy
Message-ID: <91157.100633ESR@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: 6 Jun 91 18:06:33 GMT
References: <9776X31w164w@spies.com> <1991Jun05.060505.115653@locus.com>
 <1991Jun5.123958.14100@st-andy.uucp>
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Lines: 13

>A friend of mine wants to 'turn in' her employer for software piracy.

Most of the suggestions in response to this have been consistent with our
tendency for litigation.  I agree with an earlier post that the best way
to approach this is to assume that the company is trying to do the right
thing and does not approve of this.  Give the company a chance to fix it
first.  It's possible that those who have such bootleg copies are not even
aware that it is illegal or unethical.

I would attempt to approach it from the standpoint of one trying to HELP
the company to avoid problems and to train their employees in the problems
which can occur as a result of bootleg software.  Only if that approach was
unsuccessful would I consider reporting it outside the company.