Back in 1992 FAST/ELSPA ran adverts in the popular Amiga magazines, ads aimed squarely at children, featuring two teenage male characters. One would buy or have copied games, the other would express moral outrage. In one ad, at a car boot type location, Righteous Lad finds software on a stand and exclaims “And these are pirate games. FAST are offering £1000 for information about pirates”. No, they were not, a reward might have been paid for information leading to a conviction. And according to FAST, they were not offering a reward at all, ELPSA were. I did call the number in the advert, and was told as such. Later, I recieved a letter “thanking” me, and that FAST would assist in any private legal action *I* wished to take against pirates !!! Later, I received a phone call from a Mr FAST, who advised me that if I did my details would be made public, and I might receive visits from large men with pickelves. Given I was HM Forces at the time, I relished the thought; pick handles vs 5.56mm… no contest.

I have no sympathy for software companies that attempt to limit users rights through confusing an ambiguous licences, nor the BSA’s arrogant, misleading, and self-serving attitude. Remember the flurry of letters “inviting” companies to be audited, and the ‘threat’ of police raids if companies did not?