Earlier this month, Business Software Alliance (BSA) has announced a campaign to address software piracy in The Netherlands. In their so-called 'Black on White’ action, informants can anonymously report any illegal usage of software within their company, in return for a lot of money.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a trade group established in 1988, representing a number of the world's largest software makers. Its principal activity is trying to stop copyright infringement of software produced by its members.

BSA is known around the world for their extraordinary ways to address the issue of software piracy. Among the more provocative approaches BSA has taken is the ‘Bust Your Boss!’ campaign that has appeared on billboards, printed publications and on the Internet, a few years ago, with the following suggestion: "Is your current or former employer using pirated software in their office? Hit 'em where it really hurts - report their illegal software use today."

Despite the controversy this campaign led to at the time, BSA now launch a similar stunt in The Netherlands. Jacco Brand, chairman of the Dutch section of BSA explained how it works in Intermediair magazine.

Everyone who works in a company where pirated software is in use can report the abuse to BSA anonymously. When BSA has collected enough data on the alleged infringement, they will pay a visit to the company and insist that they buy licenses for the software. In addition, BSA often demand the company to pay the software manufacturers compensation of up to three times the total license fees payable. The informant is entitled to up to 10% of the compensation collected (with a maximum of 10.000 euro).

According to Brand, the campaign will be promoted extensively in the coming year. BSA wants to make it clear that companies should not anticipate to get away with using pirated software. It takes only one employee to pick up the phone...

Source: Intermediair