- Thursday, 26 November 2009
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The Israeli Palestine dispute is a short term problem - Dr Craig Barrett, Intel
Copyright cops head for Manchester
COMPUTERS AT WORK WATCHDOG the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has published a report which shows that, for the first time ever, fewer companies in the UK are using illegal or unlicensed software than ever before.
Given that the software industry spends bucketloads of cash on preventing the use of dodgy software, and that there is a global downturn in piracy in general, you might be forgiven for thinking that the reported one per cent reduction in piracy in the UK, from 27 to 26 per cent, looks a little disappointing.
But the BSA, using maths and other voodoo trickery, claims that, if the trend continues and the level of back-door hackery and crackery reduces by just ten per cent, the resultant increase in revenue could generate 13,622 new jobs, contribute £4.42 billion to the UK economy and increase tax revenues by £1.08 billion. Dontcha just love statistics?
The first of a number of regional swoops took part in Glasgow recently, and the organisation has conveniently pointed out that Manchester is next major city on the list. So you Manc types had better make sure all of your font licenses and copies of Photoshop are completely Kosher, 'coz the Copyright Cops will be kicking down a door near you real soon.
The BSA is funded by a long list of software firms with an obviously vested interest, including Apple, Avid, Corel, Microsoft, Monotype, Quark and Symantec. µ
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Surely the BSA don't have a right of entry? Even the cops need a search warrant.

*knock* *knock*
"Hi, we're the BSA, we've come to audit you."

*Slam*

In fact I would love them to come and try at my office. the PCI accreditation we have expressly forbids connection of outside machines on the network, or the running of unauthorised software. As for entry into the server room... I think not!
The Business Software Alliance is funded by software companies, including Apple, Microsoft and Symantec.

Is that to say that some of those hypothetical 13,622 new jobs will include software testers throughout the companies' software release cycle? Cuz the aforementioned companies certainly release some unstable products that aren't even worthy of licensing...
Eee! Does the BSA speak Corrie Talk?
I dae nae ken howt ta cypher ta Meagher maths, boot I'd aver smarter traffic signals wude increase tha whole petrols kit & kaboedle. I'll get chuffed for an Advocaat! Wound too much the Zenitphobics, because, lo, I'm no bovvered; Aliens are me bothers! Naot to farcial recognitions to mature, why nowt traffic signals? Made great block after block during this great run to fetch a wee cuppa tha gods running ova! But how's to bloomin eck is me? No much feather me little smurfs.

"my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read...
I work in his factory,
And I curse the life Im living
And I curse my poverty
And I wish that I could be
Richard Corey"

I'll go have a snortin lie down.
Can't say I feel any solidarity for professionals or companies using pirated software to make money. That's on a whole different level. Not that piracy is good (well, if everybody pirated britney spears and that whole dumb producer-created thing, they'd disappear sooner rather than later).