Snitch on pirates to win prizes

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 16 Jan 2009 at 14:52

The Business Software Alliance paid out $136,100 last year to people who grassed up colleagues for using pirated software.

The "Know it, Report it, Reward it" program, offers informants cash rewards for reporting companies that use illegal software.

In 2008 the scheme rewarded 42 individuals whose evidence forced several US companies to settle with the BSA on behalf of their members.

The moles each recieved around $3,200, though reporting bigger targets with a more widespread culture of using pirated software can earn tipsters up to $1 million, according to the BSA.

While the total payout of $136,100 for the year may seem low in this context, the BSA claims this is because a number of the people who reported companies refused their reward, preferring to do "the right thing."

The BSA suggests that as the economic downturn bites budgets more companies may be tempted to use pirated software, but the organisation is warning businesses to play it safe.

"When business is down and IT budgets are stretched thin, some managers may be tempted to cut corners, leading to increased use of unlicensed software in their businesses," says the group's general counsel Neil McBride.

"This is a terrible mistake because in the long run, companies stand to lose more money from being caught than they saved by installing unauthorised copies of software," he concludes.

The BSA represents a number of leading US tech companies including Adobe, Apple and Microsoft.