Auction websites told how to beat pirates

Global anti-piracy group the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has issued a set of guidelines for online auction sites to follow to help prevent the sale of counterfeit software.

According to the BSA, more than 90 per cent of software sold through internet auction sites is pirated, costing the industry $13bn in lost revenue. It wants auction sites to make consumers more aware of the dangers of buying online.

The BSA has published the Model Business Practices on Intellectual Property for Internet Auction Sites on its website (www.bsa.org). The group said it aims to prevent the listing, sale and distribution of counterfeit software programs.

Margot Miller, legal counsel for the BSA, said: "We have developed these global standards which we hope auction sites will adopt. If auction sites comply with the guidelines it will greatly help consumers' experiences buying online."

The Model Business Practices include:

• prohibiting sellers from offering infringing software
• taking responsibility for keeping illegal software off their site, including actively reviewing their site to identify and promptly terminate infringing auctions
• responding quickly and effectively to reports of infringing auctions
• posting prominent educational messages on their site.

Amazon.com is the first auction site to meet the standards set out in the model, and the BSA is hoping other auction sites will also "assume responsibility for keeping pirated products off their sites".

The BSA, which offers up to £10,000to individuals that provide information on the use of illegal software, recovered tens of thousands of pounds worth of pirated software in a raid on a London home last month.

The group also filed lawsuits against "dozens" of individuals for selling counterfeit software through online auction sites including QXL, Yahoo, Ricardo and eBay.

The illegal copying and distribution of software programs generated losses of £457m last year, it said.

See also:

Bosses risk jail over illegal software

Bosses have been warned to introduce clauses into employee contracts stipulating that they take responsibility for using unlicensed software on their PCs.  15 Feb 2001

Fast lays piracy ghost to rest

A five-year joint operation between anti-piracy organisation the Federation Against Software Theft (Fast) and the West Yorkshire police has ended in a haul of over £6m of pirated software.  12 Feb 2001

Fast to lose non-profit status

Members of the Federation Against Software Theft have hit out at efforts to turn the non-profit making organisation into a limited company.  02 Feb 2001

Auction sites overrun with pirated software

Nine out of 10 software packages offered on popular auction sites, such as eBay and Yahoo, are illegal, according to a fresh report.  27 Jan 2001

Software snatched in London piracy raid

The British Software Alliance has recovered tens of thousands of pounds worth of pirated software in a raid on a London home.  23 Nov 2000

BSA doubles bounty for software tip-offs

Exposing network managers using unlicensed software could now earn informants the princely sum of £10,000.  08 Nov 2000

Auction sites warned over illegal software

A global anti-software piracy group has warned that it may take seven European web auction sites to court because they are being used by pirates to sell illegal software.  19 Oct 2000

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!