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news/cafv02n24: Message-Id: <77815@netnews.upenn.edu>
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An article from the Computers and Academic Freedom News 02.24

Note 7 recaps notes from a SPA (Software Publishers Association) talk to UPenn
sysadmins.

7. A few points from a recent talk to UPenn sysadmins by the SPA: When
the SPA visits your site, they can seize hardware through a court
order.  Generally, they do not do so - instead performing an on-site
audit of software.  The SPA has never actually gone to court - usually
settling with offending institutions out of court.  They have a
self-audit kit available to you and your organization.  They do not
try to enforce licensing of non-member companies, but they also do not
publicize which companies are members.

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caf
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A description to the comp-academic-freedom-talk mailing list. It is a
free-forum for the discussion of questions such as: How should general
principles of academic freedom (such as freedom of expression, freedom
to read, due process, and privacy) be applied to university computers
and networks? How are these principles actually being applied? How can
the principles of academic freedom as applied to computers and
networks be defended?

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--
Carl Kadie -- kadie@cs.uiuc.edu -- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

In <1992Sep1.190931.2373@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dhiggs@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (General Protection Fault) writes:

>The people I work with are compiling a record of all of the software loaded on
>our department's computers and have asked me to see about finding more
>information on searches being done by the Software Publishers Association.
>They've heard varying versions of reports that SCA representatives are
>appearing on campuses with search warrants in hand to route unlicensed copies
>of commercial software.

>If anybody has any information of any kind (news stories, policy statements,
>etc, etc, etc...) please zap a copy through my e-mail.

The SPA has a software package called SPAudit that will assist you in
taking the inventory.  I'm not sure about the cost though.

--
D. Keith Rice -- University of North Texas -- drice@ponder.csci.unt.edu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Beta Test: To voluntarily entrust one's data, livelihood and sanity to
           hardware or software intended to destroy all three.  In
           earlier days, virgins were selected to beta test volcanoes.

 Isn't the tactic SPA uses go something like this (SPA to some exec at
the "target" company) "We understand you have unlicensed copies of xyz
software.  Allow us to come and look at all your PC's and examine your
purchasing records for these unlicensed copies; if we find unlicensed
software, you pay us x dollars plus pay the manufacturer for these copies.
If you don't allow us to perform the search we'll begin legal action."

 I can understand SPA's desire to stop piracy.  However, if this is really
the tactic, it seems a bit heavy handed (IMHO) since no company really wants 
to go to court over something like this.  I would imagine that since they
(SPA) want to see PO's, that you must be able to produce a record of purchase
for each software product otherwise you are deemed to have "pirated" the 
copy. 
--

--
Ian Clements, 			| 
ian@sgi.com, 415/390-3410 	| Towards the beans! Towards the beans!

In article <drice.715488087@ponder> drice@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Keith Rice) writes:
>In <1992Sep1.190931.2373@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dhiggs@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (General Protection Fault) writes:
>
>>The people I work with are compiling a record of all of the software loaded on
>>our department's computers and have asked me to see about finding more
>>information on searches being done by the Software Publishers Association.
>>They've heard varying versions of reports that SCA representatives are
>>appearing on campuses with search warrants in hand to route unlicensed copies
>>of commercial software.
>
>>If anybody has any information of any kind (news stories, policy statements,
>>etc, etc, etc...) please zap a copy through my e-mail.
>
>The SPA has a software package called SPAudit that will assist you in
>taking the inventory.  I'm not sure about the cost though.

	Do you have any way of contacting the SPA so that one might see
how much their SPAudit is?

In article <1992Sep3.181024.4213@ringer.cs.utsa.edu> rnelson@lonestar.utsa.edu (Robert T. Nelson) writes:
>>The SPA has a software package called SPAudit that will assist you in
>>taking the inventory.  I'm not sure about the cost though.
>
>	Do you have any way of contacting the SPA so that one might see
>how much their SPAudit is?

I'll make you a copy.  :>

Sorry, couldn't help myself.


Frank Stuart           |   Slower traffic keep right.  |  Don't Panic
fstuart@eng.auburn.edu |   MMMMMmmmmm lutefisk.        |  Never moon a werewolf

In article <1992Sep3.181024.4213@ringer.cs.utsa.edu>, rnelson@lonestar.utsa.edu (Robert T. Nelson) writes:
> In article <drice.715488087@ponder> drice@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Keith Rice) writes:
>>In <1992Sep1.190931.2373@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dhiggs@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (General Protection Fault) writes:
>>
>>>The people I work with are compiling a record of all of the software loaded on
>>>our department's computers and have asked me to see about finding more
>>>information on searches being done by the Software Publishers Association.
>>
>>>If anybody has any information of any kind (news stories, policy statements,
>>>etc, etc, etc...) please zap a copy through my e-mail.
>>
>>The SPA has a software package called SPAudit that will assist you in
>>taking the inventory.  I'm not sure about the cost though.
> 
> 	Do you have any way of contacting the SPA so that one might see     
> how much their SPAudit is?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Software Publishers Association is at
1730 M. Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC  20036
202-452-1600
They have had the DOS version of the Self Audit Kit for some time.
This week I received their new MAC version.
The kits are free.