BSA Audit Blog
This blawg is dedicated to software audits enforced by the Business Software Alliance.
Author: Robert J. Scott is the managing partner and Christopher Barnett and Ilan Jenkins are associates at Scott & Scott in Dallas. All also contribute to Business & Technology Law; Scott also contributes to Software Audit Blog, and Barnett and Jenkins also contribute to Privacy & Security Blog.
Blawg Related Categories: Intellectual Property Law • Copyright Law • Partner
Recent Posts from BSA Audit Blog
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Eight Predictions for 2008
2007 was an exciting and dynamic year for the software asset management industry. As we enter a new year, the software industry will continue to evolve. Here are my predictions for what will happen in…
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Business Software Alliance to Reward Individuals Up To $1 Million for Qualified Reports of Copyright Infringement
Last week, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) announced that it will temporarily increase its rewards incentive from $200,000 to $1 million from July to October 2007. This is the second dramatic increase in the organization’s…
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Intellectual Property Enforcement or Witch-hunt?
Recently, the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), a group consisting of heavy-hitting IP stakeholders, such as the Recording Industry Association of America, the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA),…
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When to Buy vs. Uninstall in BSA Audits
One of the most common mistakes I encounter in BSA audits is what I call the post-effective date software buying spree. The buying spree occurs in response to a letter from the BSA’s attorney’s requesting…
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A New Definition of Software Piracy
A New Definition of Software Piracy What is software piracy? Like many politically charged phrases, the definition of software piracy is influenced by your financial interests and your viewpoint. The Business Software Alliance defines software…
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Unbundling Software Suites in BSA Audits
One of the most controversial tactics the BSA uses when calculating its settlement demands is its practice of unbundling software suites such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. Unbundling occurs when the target of…
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BSA Audit TimeLine
One of the top ten questions asked by my clients is “How long does the BSA self-audit process take from start to finish?” Of course I give the standard lawyer answer: it depends. Here are…
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The Importance of the “Audit Effective Date” in BSA Audits
One of the first things I ask a prospective client is: What is the date on the initial letter you received from the BSA? The date on the initial in a BSA letter is often…
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Cooperation or Litigation: BSA Audit Strategy
If your company has received a letter from the BSA requesting a software audit, you are probably wondering whether you should cooperate or tell the BSA to pound sand. I advise my clients to cooperate…
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Suing the Informant in BSA Audits
The targets of BSA audits frequently believe that they know who reported them to the Business Software Alliance. Justifiably angry, they want to know what legal recourse they have against the informant. Because the informants…