Why the BSA Is Less Reviled Than the RIAA

Hugh Pickens writes "The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a trade group established in 1988 representing a number of the world's largest software makers whose principal activity is trying to stop copyright infringement of software produced by its members, performing roughly the same function for the software industry that the RIAA performs for the music industry. Yet, as Bill Patry, author of a 7-volume treatise on US copyright law and currently Senior Copyright Counsel at Google, notes on his blog the BSA is a 'far less unpopular organization' than the RIAA because there are three key differences between the BSA's campaigns and the RIAA's. First, BSA's members have always offered their products for sale to the public, through any channel that wants to sell them. Second, BSA's members are consumer-oriented; they try to develop products that respond to consumers' needs, and not, the reverse: focusing on what they want to sell to consumers. Third, because consumers can easily purchase BSA's members products, those who copy without paying are simply scofflaws. 'I think the fact that the public does not object to BSA's campaign proves my point [that]... people do not want things for free; they are willing to pay for them,' writes Patry. 'It should not be surprising that when consumers are not treated with respect, they react negatively. That's something the software industry learned long ago, and that's why people don't object to the BSA's enforcement campaign.'"

Comments

Ernie Ball

[symbolset]

Let's not forget the Ernie Ball story.

Re:Ernie Ball

[Anonymous Coward]

Typically they won't even fine you, unless what you're doing is particularly egregious or blatant. Normally they're perfectly happy if you just purchase the licenses to cover the gap between what you have licensed and what you are using.

Re:Ernie Ball

[Jurily]

Normally they're perfectly happy if you just purchase the licenses to cover the gap between what you have licensed and what you are using.

This thread is now over. You win the discussion, sir.

Re:Ernie Ball

[ngg]

[snip] You're forgetting a very large demographic: The people who already have old hardware and/or software, and need an OS compatible with it. And, by hardware, I don't just mean CPUs, motherboards, disc controllers, etc. I'm really talking about *expensive* hardware, like the data acquisition cards, and *expensive* software, like LabVIEW and Origin, that professional scientists use. I mean, seriously, have you ever looked at the list price for a full version of LabVIEW? It's like $20k *per* *seat*. Oh, and the older versions are not compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. In our case, being forced to buy new licences for application software make upgrading our data acquisition systems from XP to a newer version of Windows about a $45k affair. And what new value to we get for it? Nothing. Abso-fracking-lutely nothing that we don't already have from XP. And don't talk to me about RAM. 640MB ought to be enough for anybody. [/rant]

Re:Multiple copies.

[Anonymous Coward]

The RIAA doesn't care if you make a copy of an audio CD for different machines in your own house.

Are you not paying attention, or what?

One of the most fascinating admissions during the legislative hearings a few years ago was when the RIAA rep said yes, indeed, if you copy a CD so you can keep one in your car and not risk damage to the original, you ARE infringing copyright and you SHOULD buy another. Thus spake RIAA, Amen.

As I recall, Orin Hatch made a big deal out of his having his own CD and how he was violating copyright by having a copy in his hand at the desk.

This was back around the time Napster was being raped, and Lars/Metallica were making complete asses of themselves insulting their fans.

The BSA learned from Ernie Ball

[Anonymous Coward]

The BSA came down really hard on Ernie Ball. They were going to make an example of him and it backfired. They were smart enough not to try the same stunt again.

When I saw TFA, my first thought was Ernie Ball. The first post is about Ernie Ball. It is to BSA's credit that they only made that mistake once. The RIAA, on the other hand, seems to get it wrong time after time.

Re:Less sympathy for companies

[MightyMartian]

How is it that you can use a computer and yet be functionally illiterate?

I'm mad because I have a Server 2003 install with a 5 CAL pack that, according to the SAM rep, was invalid because I bought it retail as opposed to through volume licensing (because, apparently, the server software was bought through volume licensing).

Now go and shove pencils up your nose, or some other menial activity that's likely within the limited scope of your intellectual abilities.