BSA has long highlighted the ways properly licensed software creates value for enterprises and economies. For example, a body of research shows that fully licensed software improves productivity and efficiency by reducing exposure to viruses and other security vulnerabilities — meaning fewer system malfunctions, downtime, and IT repair costs. It also comes with value-added services [...]
Read MoreNew Economic Research Confirms the Competitive Advantage of Properly Licensed Software
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Clear Thinking on Software Patents
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In the vigorous, ongoing debate about the state of America’s patent system — and the state of software patents, in particular — there are some legitimate issues that call for practical solutions, and there is a great deal of peripheral noise. To sort through and identify which is which, BSA and the National Association of [...]
Read MorePatents Pending
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Recognizing the complex, rapidly evolving nature of software innovation, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has formed a partnership with the software community and is holding two “roundtable” discussions this month to solicit input on how best to improve the quality of the software-related patents it issues. I spoke for BSA today at the [...]
Read MoreKappos Offers Fact-Driven Analysis of the Software Patent System
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Against the backdrop of an ongoing debate in industry and policy circles about the impact of software patents on innovation and the economy, US Patent and Trademark Director Dave Kappos this morning argued that the patent system works well. His remarks came in a keynote address at the Center for American Progress, which is worth [...]
Read MoreSoftware Prices and Piracy in the Developing World: Correlation vs. Causation
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Software piracy rates are highest in the developing world, where per capita incomes are lowest. For some observers, this correlation is evidence of causation. Software costs too much for people in emerging economies to afford, the argument goes; that’s why they steal it. Charge less, and the problem will take care of itself. Related posts: [...]
Read MoreAt Last, Industry-Standard SAM for Organizations
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In every sector of the global economy, organizations of all types rely on software tools to communicate, to make products, to offer services, and to manage their operations. But keeping track of all those software assets can be a challenge, especially for a large enterprise. More divisions, more teams, more projects mean more software — [...]
Read MoreDear Supercommittee, Leverage IT for Deficit Reduction
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The closely watched deliberations of the so-called “supercommittee” on deficit reduction represent an inflection point, not just for congressional efforts to rein in federal deficits and begin paying down America’s public debt, but also for the growth prospects of the US economy. The supercommittee’s assignment is no easy task, to be sure, but it offers [...]
Read MoreInside a $59 Billion Heist: The Contradictory Opinions and Behaviors of the World’s Software Pirates
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Earlier this year, BSA reported in its annual Global Software Piracy Study that the commercial value of PC software theft leapt 14 percent worldwide in 2010 to $59 billion. Behind all that theft, of course, were millions and millions of computer users installing unlicensed software in homes, businesses, government agencies, and other enterprises. What were [...]
Read MoreClosing the Financial Spigot for Fake Software Peddlers
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“Follow the money,” the mysterious Deep Throat famously urges Bob Woodward in All the President’s Men. “Always follow the money.” It is sage advice that investigative journalists and law enforcement authorities have been following for generations to ferret out criminal activity. And by the same token, cutting off the flow of money to a criminal [...]
Read MoreKeeping Strong IPR at the Top of the Trans-Pacific Trade Agenda
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Want to bring down the US trade deficit? One easy way is to reduce software piracy. At last count, the packaged-software industry was contributing a surplus of nearly $37 billion to the US balance of trade — and that was with one hand tied behind its back, because another $30 billion worth of sales are [...]
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