201901.23
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Effective Dates in Software Audits Are Critically Important

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Businesses that receive software audit demand letters from auditing entities such as the BSA or SIIA, or from software companies like Autodesk or Microsoft, often contend they cleaned up their network after receipt of the letter and should be released from any further obligation to conduct an audit or communicate with the auditor. Audited business…

201708.11
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Anti Piracy: A New Definition for Software Piracy

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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 piracy as: “The illegal use and/or distribution of software protected under intellectual property laws.” The Business Software Alliance specifically includes…

201701.18
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Three Top Tips for Compliance Documentation After BSA and SIIA Settlements

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In a previous post, I introduced the concept of post-settlement compliance following the settlement of audits initiated by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA). As noted before, the first step to completing the compliance review process is setting a baseline to determine what software is installed compared to…

201609.15
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Most U.S. Businesses Should Co-Operate With BSA Audit Demands…To A Point

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An article published by a U.K. business journal suggested that U.K. businesses should refuse to co-operate with demands by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) for information regarding BSA-member software installations and licenses. The article’s sources appear to base their suggestions on a combination of personal experience and, perhaps, assumptions about the BSA’s operating procedures in…

201607.15
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Software Compliance After BSA and SIIA Settlements

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Your business has just finished spending the last year of its corporate life responding to a software audit demanded by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) or the Software &Information Industry Association (SIIA). It has devoted substantial time and internal resources in an effort to gather an accurate inventory of software installations, together with all available…

201604.15
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Unbundling Software Suites in BSA | The Software Alliance Audits

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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 a BSA audit is unable to provide acceptable proof of purchase for one or more installation of a software suite….

201602.01
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What You Need to Know if You Receive a Letter from BSA | The Software Alliance

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Preparing the BSA Audit Materials BSA | The Software Alliance’s primary enforcement tool is to send a threatening letter indicating that an investigation has commenced and offering to forego litigation if the target company provides a self-audit. A self-audit consists of a listing of all BSA member software running on a company’s computer networks, appropriate…

201601.01
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When to Seek Help for a BSA | The Software Alliance Audit

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Many companies choose to pursue an internal audit of software systems after receiving a request from the Business Software Alliance (BSA). When it comes to deciding how to proceed with an audit, there are multiple considerations, including, but not limited to, the size of the company, amount of computers, type of software at issue, IT…

201511.23
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Black Friday for Software Copyright Infringement Settlements

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As the year comes to a close, many software publishers and trade associations with calendar year accounting are resolving as many outstanding software audits as possible. Companies currently engaged in a software audit may be able to negotiate favorable resolutions to their audit matters. The following are a few tips to reach an amicable resolution…