The BSA escalated its action against vendors of software programs who advertise on Internet auction sites such as Ebay and Yahoo:
All of the defendants in the November action were identified from advertisements or listings on popular Internet auctions sites, including Ebay and Yahoo. BSA purchased programs they offered for a fraction of their legitimate price. BSA paid approximately $1,600 for programs published by Adobe, Autodesk, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec, which retail for more than $50,000. The statutory damages provisions of the copyright law allow for an award of up to $150,000 for each work infringed. |
The Federal Trade Commission has announced that Internet auction fraud is among the top 10 online scams. In a consumer protection effort last December, BSA issued its 'Model Business Practices on Intellectual Property for Internet Auction Sites," aimed at curbing the listing, sale and distribution of pirated and counterfeit software programs through Internet auction sites. It also recognized Amazon.com as the first auction site to meet the standards set out in the model practices.
In addition, over the past several years, BSA has filed lawsuits against individuals pirating software in an IRC channel, shut down thousands of warez Websites, and worked closely with law enforcement to promote criminal prosecutions.
A reason why they trace people who sell illegal software according to the BSA:
They look to make money at the expense of consumers who often believe they are getting genuine product and creators who receive no return on their investment. And clearly, they are not easily deterred." |
If they really believe this, they are really stupid, who doesn't know that a copy of Office 2000 for 5 USD is legal ?!
Source: BSA.org
