Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

BSA Claims 35% of Software is Pirated

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that's-a-lot-of-eyepatches dept.

hdtv writes "Business Software Alliance says 35% of packaged software installed on PCs globally is pirated, and estimates the losses at $34 bln. From the article: 'The countries with the highest piracy rates were Vietnam (90%), Zimbabwe (90%), Indonesia (87%), China (86%), and Pakistan (86%). The countries with the lowest piracy rates were the United States (21%), New Zealand (23%), Austria (26%), and Finland (26%).' TechDirt analysis debunks some of the myths: 'The BSA claims that all of these "lost sales" represent real harm to the economy. It's the same bogus argument they've trotted out before, which is easily debunked. Much of that unauthorized software is being used to make firms much more productive than they would be otherwise -- probably benefiting the overall economy quite a bit.'"

2 of 617 comments (clear)

  1. May 27:Prostitute Schedule @ MBOT in San Francisco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Like Las Vegas, San Francisco offers prostitution as a tourist attraction. If you want to buy some prostitution services (i.e., hand job, blow job, or full sexual intercourse), you need to merely walk through the doors of the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater (MBOT), located at 895 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, California.

    Check out the prostitute schedule for May 27, 2006 at the MBOT.

    The prostitute schedule is updated daily.

    Unlike Las Vegas, San Francisco does not regulate prostitution. So, the MBOT heartily welcomes everyone -- including HIV-positive customers.

    If you are repulsed by the idea of receiving sex services from a prostitute (at the MBOT) who services roughly 1000 guys per year, then consider the following 2 genuine stripclubs, which prohibit prostitution.

    Crazy Horse
    -----------
    980 Market Street
    San Francisco, California

    Gold Club
    ---------
    650 Howard Street
    San Francisco, California

  2. ARRR! Tis Geek Squad landlubbers robbing tresure! by Bushido+Hacks · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Avast! If slashdotters recall in the last year that the BSA (which usually couldn't find a pirate if he had an eyepatch, a wooden leg, a hook, and a parrot that spouted off the names of all the bootlegged commerical software that was stollen), hit paydirt when they found out that employees of Geek Squad (those posers at Best Buy) were the ones stealing commerical computer software, video games, DVDs, and Music CDs.

    If anything the BSA has found a reasonable purpose instead of playing the part of the Microsoft Police.

    --
    The Rapture is NOT an exit strategy.