Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!mintaka!mit-eddie!rutgers!bpa!cbmvax!lauren
From: lauren@cbmvax.commodore.com (Lauren Brown - CATS)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Pirates and Houston Amiga BBSes
Keywords: SPA Toll Free Number, SW Piracy
Message-ID: <10063@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 8 Mar 90 23:04:10 GMT
References: <1752@crash.cts.com> <25F4C688.3767@orion.oac.uci.edu> <23311@usc.edu> <10037@cbmvax.commodore.com> <490f8c82.db93@edsel.engin.umich.edu>
Reply-To: lauren@cbmvax (Lauren Brown - CATS)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 41

>>You can call the Software Publisher Association toll free number, and they
>>>will tell you what you can do.  Ask ATT for the 800 number for the SPA.
>>
>>The toll free number for reporting piracy is (800) 388-PIR8.

>What kind of information is SPA interested in?  I presume they aren't asking
>for reports like "Joe Blow just gave my brother a copy of FuzzPro+ version 3,"
>correct?  Are they mostly interested in reports of pirate BBSes, or what?  And,
>how "hard" do they want the information to be?
>
I spoke with Karen Johnson of SPA this afternoon. While Karen isn't directly
involved with their anti-piracy campaign, she did give me an overview
of their procedure.

Essentially, SPA is interested in hearing ANY reports of piracy. However, 
response will differ according to the seriousness of the charge. As 
example: if someone calls with the phone number of a pirate BBS, it is
possible the FBI will be alerted immediately. Or, if a call comes in
regarding a company's somewhat illegal (to say nothing of immoral:-)
copying  of software, SPA  may write to the company, including their
software audit kit with the letter.

FYI - the SPA's software audit kit is available to any company upon
request. It includes procedures for corporations to perform their
own software audit, to ensure legal software usage under the copyright
laws. It also includes a list of the possible penalties if software
is used illegally. 

The kit can be requested by calling SPA at (202) 452-1600.



-- 
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Lauren Brown     -- CBM   >>Commodore Amiga Technical Support<<
                                    1200 Wilson Drive
                                  West Chester, PA 19380                     
                   UUCP     ...{allegra,uunet,rutger,}!cbmvax!lauren 
                                    PHONE 215-431-9100
				
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