SPA Hooks A Record Number of Pirates in 1992 
New Anti-Piracy Tools Also Debut

January 5, 1993 (Washington, DC)- The Software Publishers Association (SPA)
announced today that 1992 marked the most active year for its anti-piracy
activities to date. Working on behalf of its members, the SPA investigates
cases of software copyright infringement involving corporations,
educational and nonprofit institutions, commercial dealers, and bulletin
boards.

Illegal copying of software was estimated to cost the PC software industry
over $1.2 billion in the United States in 1991, hurting publishers and end
users alike. Piracy leads to higher prices and less incentive for
innovation.

Most investigations begin with a call to the SPA anti-piracy hotline
(1-800-3887478). Information gathered from telephone conversations are
then reviewed by the SPA's in-house litigation staff. Depending on the
strength of the information and the severity of the case, legal action can
be taken using cease and desist letters, corporate audits, or Ex-Parte
seizure orders.

In 1992, up to 30 phone calls per day poured into the hotline. Based on
these leads, the SPA took action against 747 organizations. This included
218 audits and lawsuits (resulting in the payment of $3.9 million in fines
and penalties) and 529 cease and desist letters. Of the audits and
lawsuits filed, 95% were corporate cases, while the remaining 5% of
defendants comprised bulletin board services (BBS), training facilities,
and schools. Also in 1992, the SPA received its largest settlement to date
in an audit action. The company, whose identity must remain anonymous,
paid nearly $500,000 in settlement of a case involving 66 SPA members.

During 1992, the SPA supported legislation that elevates the willful
copying of computer software from a misdemeanor to a felony. The new law,
passed by Congress last October, targets professional software pirates who
make many copies of software and resell them at low prices; illegal
bulletin board operators who distribute pirated software; and PC dealers
who offer "free" but illegal software to hardware purchasers.

The SPA also engages in an active public awareness and prevention campaign.
To date, over 90,000 copies of SPAudit, the SPA's free software inventory
management tool, have been distributed, 32,000 of them in 1992. This
product allows an organization to take inventory of software already
installed on their computers in an effort to become software legal. In
1992, the SPA sold 950 copies of its newly introduced Software Management
Guide, which contains comprehensive materials for companies to establish a
software asset management program.

Nearly 25,000 copies of a 12-minute informational videotape entitled "It's
Just Not Worth the Risk," and 20,000 copies of an 8-minute educational
video, "Don't Copy That Floppy," targeting computer-using schoolchildren,
were also distributed in 1992. Lastly, the Association maintains an active
anti-piracy speakers' bureau. Last year, SPA representatives delivered 112
anti-piracy presentations across North America.

The SPA's Executive Director, Ken Wasch, commented, "We continue to keep a
vigilant watch on how our members' software is being used. We are very
encouraged that many companies in the United States are hearing our
message and voluntarily taking steps to become software legal. The high
demand for anti-piracy educational materials and tools demonstrates that
most organizations want to be using software legally."

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the personal computer software industry. Its over 1,000 members represent
the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education software
markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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