‘SOPA needs work’ says the Business Software Alliance

SOFTWARE LICENSING ENFORCEMENT GROUP, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) is reluctant to offer its full support to the US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) as it stands, and has called for some changes to the bill.

Earlier the BSA welcomed SOPA, but now, after the bill has been discussed in the US House of Representatives and drawn widespread opposition, the BSA has revisited its stance and reminded the world that it did so with some caveats.

"SOPA needs work to address innovation considerations," says a blog post from the organisation that counts Apple, Dell, Microsoft and Adobe among its members.

According to BSA president and CEO Robert Holleyman the organisation's members are concerned about the scale of SOPA and the impact that it might have on innovation.

"Last week, when the Committee held a hearing on SOPA, I listened carefully to Members' statements and questions as to how this balance would be achieved. It is evident from what I heard that much work remains ahead for the Committee," said Holleyman.

"I believe the bill's basic goals should be to promote creativity - something software and computer companies are very good at - while deterring bad actors that profit from selling copies of software and other works they do not own. BSA firmly believes these goals are compatible and achievable."

Of course the BSA's remit is to fight software counterfeiting so the thrust of the bill still appeals to it. However, Holleyman said that efforts should concentrate on catching the worst offenders, suggesting that the bill as is offers a dragnet approach to swooping down on anyone and everyone that has downloaded or uploaded content.

"Valid and important questions have been raised about the bill. It is intended to get at the worst of the worst offenders. As it now stands, however, it could sweep in more than just truly egregious actors," he added.

"To fix this problem, definitions of who can be the subject of legal actions and what remedies are imposed must be tightened and narrowed. Due process, free speech, and privacy are rights cannot be compromised."

Holleyman added that the BSA has never supported filtering or internet monitoring, and added that the BSA would work with policy makers on the development of legislation. µ