Features

Make sure your software is legal

By LEROY MCLEAN, Contributor

Vol 10:4

IN A RECENT raid executed by the local police, a Kgn. computer and software store has been locked down.

They were selling illegal copies of Microsoft software with PCs for $32,000 when the software alone was worth $28,000. Software piracy is indeed a global epidemic that clearly affects several IT companies.

The BSA ...http://www.bsa.org/ -- The Business Software Alliance is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry (not just Microsoft) and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace.

Intellectual-property theft is a major problem around the world. It is estimated to be costing U.S businesses about $250 billion in lost sales each year. China is currently experiencing approximately 90 per cent piracy of its music and movies.

Protect yourself

The most important thing that you can do to protect yourself is to ensure that the computer you purchased has legal software installed. Now how does a consumer know that the computer will have legal software? Well, I would think that you would want to find this out from your computer supplier. You need for them to confirm with you that they are in fact installing legal copies of the software.

Legal software means that it was purchased and was not obtained by any illegal channels such as downloading over the Internet using Peer-to-Peer software.

The problem is not only with software, but if you plan to download or use music, movies, books or other protected material, then you are in breach and have committed an offence.

In conclusion, please ensure that you are using legal software on that computer. You need to desist from using any material obtained illegally.

Send your comments or suggestions to thestartech@yahoo.com. You can also write to StarTech c/o The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.