Psst, buddy! Wanna make a quick $3,200? All you need to do is rat out someone you know who’s illegally using commercial software.
The Business Software Alliance which represents many of the big names in commercial software — Adobe, Microsoft, Symantec, and many more — has for years been coercing companies into submitting to voluntary software audits, in the hopes that software piracy might be discovered and prosecuted. They’ve also been pushing their “Know It, Report It, Reward It” program to get people to inform them of software piracy. Reward payouts in 2008 totaled $136,100. The payouts from 2008 amount to almost 6 times those from 2007, where a meager $23,000 was handed out to snitches.
Some speculate that as economic hard times continue, businesses will skimp on their IT spending, and instead use inappropriately acquired software. Or maybe folks could just hold off buying Adobe Creative Suite 4 if their current copies of Creative Suite 3 are still getting the job done?
I don’t condone software piracy, but I also don’t condone being a snitch. Maybe instead of ratting out your employer for a quick buck, you could help your employer investigate whether any Free Software would be good enough to get the job done, at least until such time as legitimate copies of the necessary applications could be licensed. Then your boss will see you’re a team player, and then you’re on your way to corporate success! And it’s that kind of Can Do! attitude — not that of the lazy snitch — on which this country was built!
Via L.A. Times
It’s probably especially tempting to someone who is getting fired/laid off. I think many employers use some type of ghost or image programs to reinstall machines, opposed to a spindle of CDs with sharpied serials on top, so the average user probably won’t notice anything weird.
So what’s the difference between a witness to a crime and a snitch to a crime?
The BS Alliance is gunning for those employees who are pissed off at their employers. They’ll start publicizing the rewards more now that more folks are getting laid off (as Josh said).
This is not a good idea because once these rats rat on someone then they are going to be a victim of battery. Non-violent crime –> Violent Crime. Screw that, suck it up big business, leave us small people alone.
Okay, then what’s the difference between a rat, a whistle blower and witness to a crime? This sounds like the same lame excuse you hear from hood rats and the need to “keep it real.” Snitches get stitches right? Just because it’s digital doesn’t mean it’s still not theft.
and then you’re on your way to corporate success!
Or at least you might get to the back of the “people to layoff while downsizing” list… possibly around the middle … well they might just not let you go just yet…
You say Photoshop… I say Gimp. And I’m happy because i don’t have to legally pay anybody for that software, i choose to donate though.