Legal Definitions - Business Software Alliance

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is an international trade organization that represents many of the world's leading software and e-commerce companies.

Its primary mission is to protect the intellectual property rights of its members. The BSA works to achieve this by:

• Educating governments and the public about important issues related to software, such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, and intellectual property.
• Actively combating software piracy, which is the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted software.
• Fighting Internet theft, which includes various forms of digital content theft and online fraud that impact software developers.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the Business Software Alliance:

• Example 1: Corporate Software Compliance Audit

  A large architecture firm is suspected of using several unlicensed copies of a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software suite across its workstations. The BSA, acting on behalf of the software developer, might initiate an investigation or contact the firm to demand an audit of its software licenses. If non-compliance is found, the BSA could pursue legal action to ensure the firm purchases legitimate licenses and pays damages for the unauthorized use. This demonstrates the BSA's role in actively fighting software piracy and protecting the copyrights of its member companies.

• Example 2: Advocating for Stronger Digital Copyright Laws

  When a national government proposes new legislation concerning digital intellectual property, the BSA might engage with lawmakers and policymakers. They would provide expert testimony and lobby for provisions that strengthen copyright protections for software, clarify rules around cloud computing, and enhance penalties for online theft. This illustrates the BSA's function in educating governments and advocating for policies that support the software industry's interests and combat Internet theft.

• Example 3: Public Awareness Campaign on Software Risks

  The BSA launches an online campaign targeting small and medium-sized businesses, warning them about the dangers of downloading software from unofficial websites. The campaign highlights how pirated software often contains malware, poses security risks, and can lead to data breaches, in addition to the legal consequences of using unlicensed products. This exemplifies the BSA's efforts to educate the public about software issues and prevent piracy and Internet theft by promoting the use of legitimate and secure software.