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Calling BS On the BSA Global Piracy Report

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-think-that-stands-for-bachelor-of-skepticism dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Business Software Alliance released their annual global piracy report earlier this week. In addition to the usual claims of software piracy (PDF) and the grudging acknowledgment of open source software, Michael Geist noted that the report ultimately undermined one of the BSA's core arguments — that countries which enact DMCA-style legislation experience significantly reduced piracy rates. Questions have also been raised over the BSA's methodology, as has happened in the past."

13 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Had to laugh at ... by delphi125 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "... and lower than all but three Asian countries (Japan, Australia, and New Zealand)"

    I read the fine article, but not the whole report. Wondering where this came from!

    1. Re:Had to laugh at ... by mpe · · Score: 2, Funny

      "... and lower than all but three Asian countries (Japan, Australia, and New Zealand)"

      If their ability to understand geography is any guide then at best they might get things right a third of the time!

    2. Re:Had to laugh at ... by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

      or maybe even "cultural similarity", though that's not the case here

      Correct. For cultural similarity, you'd lump Australia with the United States. Two colonies to witch the British exported their criminals and other undesirables.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    3. Re:Had to laugh at ... by CDS · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, but Australia got their criminals and the US got their religious nuts. Australia got the better deal!

    4. Re:Had to laugh at ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, but Australia got their criminals and the US got their religious nuts. Australia got the better deal!

      Which is why Australia is a World Superpower!

  2. My business was raided by the BSA by sakdoctor · · Score: 4, Funny

    I used a megaphone to yell "HA, WE USE LINUX!"
    Then I back-flipped onto a motorbike and sprayed them with sand.

    Actually that might have been a dream.

    1. Re:My business was raided by the BSA by MagnusE · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have a pirated version of a linux distribution and other FOSS, I share the torrent only with you: http://www.slackware.com/torrents/slackware-12.2-install-dvd.torrent

      --
      Fortune Rota Volvitur
    2. Re:My business was raided by the BSA by tepples · · Score: 2, Funny

      I have a pirated version of a linux distribution and other FOSS

      Is there another torrent so I can pirate the source code too?

  3. hanging by Joebert · · Score: 2, Funny

    How did they bring piracy under control before, didn't they use hanging ?

    Maybe that's what we have to do again.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  4. In other news... by Celc · · Score: 5, Funny

    • BSA is killing at least 9 babies every day.

    • 5 our of 10 RIAA employees snort crack.

    • MPAA responsible for 80% of Global Warming.

    In line with the BSA methodology this has all been confirmed through the use of chicken intestines, tea leaves and and an unhealthy amount of LSD.

  5. Re:Oh No! Zimbabwe is pirating! by turbidostato · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Why is the BSA even surveying countries which recently had a major war, are having battles with rebels or are suffering hyper inflation to the point their economy is broken?"

    BSA is about piracy, isn't it? Well, I'd say high seas and recent war scenarios are the most suitable for pirates, don't you think so? Arrrrh!

  6. Re:Another pro-piracy article on Slashdot by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You are an asset, nothing more, and nothing less, and you are as expendable as an office chair."

    I Guess that makes Suge Knight the Steve Ballmer of the Rap world ;-)

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  7. Thepirat eBay by tepples · · Score: 2, Funny

    They can't even spell thepiratebay correctly.

    I wonder if eBay has threatened Thepirat eBay.