Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov 97 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec 99 Recent Developments .. by Roger Davies Feb 1998 Soft Serve Direct Box 389, Magrath, Alberta, Canada T0K 1JO Phone (403) 388-4332 Fax (403) 758-3505 Email comments to news@ssdirect.com

hou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15)

Are you a Pirate? Take a look around your office. Remove any eyepatches. On the desk is a computer. It is running software. Do you recall where that software came from? Do you have a license for each program? Do you have a network? Is there a licensed copy on your shelf for each workstation in use? According to 1996 statistics, some 4 out of every 10 programs in use in Canada are illegal copies (much higher than the US, and dismally average when compared to total world stats).

• You are upgrading the old network on a budget. You have one fast new server with the Windows 95 (which happens to include great built in networking facilities). You also have new software that only works on Windows 95 machines. The old 486 computers are usable as workstations but you don't really want to fork out a lot of money on the old machines. Recap, you only have one legal copy of Windows 95 but all workstations need it to run properly. Can you configure all the machines the same to get them going?
   
• You have a new accounting program at work. You want to use it on both the office computer and your home computer (for training, eh). Can you just install it on both machines?
   
• Your neighbor across the hall gets cable. You also want to see the latest movies on your TV .. so .. you just splice into his cable line at the junction box. Now you both get to watch the Baboon Channel at the same time.

Is it stealing? Sure. You are enjoying a service for free that you were supposed to have paid for. You are placing yourself at an advantage over your neighbor through dishonest actions. Your competitor across the street (sucker) had to pay full cost for the same service that you .. er .. borrowed. Your local computer software reseller loses the chance to sell you those extra boxes. Unless enough legal copies are sold, the software company may end up closing down (.. there goes Microsoft .. ha ha .. but don't laugh - many have folded ..) or will just charge more per copy to make up for it .. so you are taking money out of our pockets too.

"It wasn't me!", you say. Ok then, what can we do about this problem? How about taking a stand for your company. Implement (if you 'da boss) or propose a policy like the sample one prepared by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), at:

• Sample Corporate Employee Agreement
  www.bsa.org/info/guideswmgt/appendix4.html

You may wish to check out these additional resource areas on the internet:

• Microsoft Canada Anti-Piracy Web Page
  www.microsoft.com/Canada/visit/piracy/
• The Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST)
  www.caast.org
• The Business Software Alliance (BSA)
  www.bsa.org

What am I doing? Soft Serve Direct supports the following Reseller Code of Ethics:

"Making, supplying and distributing unauthorized duplicates of copyrighted software violates Canadian copyright law and is contrary to the standards by which we conduct our business. As such, I recognize the following principles:

• I will neither commit nor tolerate the making or using of unauthorized copies of software under any circumstance.
• I will only supply our customers with legally acquired software.
• I will comply with all terms governing the licensing of any software that we acquire for our customers.
• I will comply with the licenses governing the use of any software that is acquired for our own business use.
• I will create and enforce strong controls within our organization (including measures to ensure compliance with this Code of Ethics) to prevent the making, supplying, using and distributing of unauthorized copies of software
• I will implement appropriate disciplinary procedures for any violation of this CODE OF ETHICS."

Revised: June 23, 2001 Design Copyright 1996-2000 by Roger Davies for Soft Serve Direct (SSDirect - Computer Consulting, PC Sales, and Service). Permission is granted for individual use and reproduction provided that this document remains intact, with this copyright message clearly visible.

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