RED BULL PAYS UNLICENSED SOFTWARE FINE
SANTA MONICA - 03/16/04 - Energy drink producer Red Bull North America has paid the Business Software Alliance (BSA) a fine of $105,000 after a self-audit revealed more copies of Adobe, Microsoft and Symantec software programs on its computers than it had licenses to support.
In addition to making the payment, Red Bull - which is active in more than 100 countries - agreed to delete any unlicensed copies, purchase replacement software and strengthen its software management practices.
Most investigations begin with a call to the organization's hotline (888-NO PIRACY), or with a report to the BSA's Online Reporting Form, at www.bsa.org.
After the BSA received a report in this case, its attorneys contacted Red Bull. The company cooperated with the BSA and voluntarily conducted a self-audit.
"Red Bull cooperated fully with the BSA's investigation by correcting any licensing deficiencies and strengthening its software management program," said Bob Kruger, vice president of enforcement for the BSA. "Just as Red Bull did, companies should implement procedures and policies to maintain an effective software management program and demonstrate to their employees the importance of respecting licensing requirements."
A recent independent study conducted by the International Planning & Research Corporation concluded that 19.3% of all business software in California is unlicensed.
Last year, the study said, software piracy cost California more than $239 million in tax revenues.
The Business Software Alliance is the largest software industry organization in the world and counts Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software / Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, UGS PLM Solutions, and VERITAS Software among its members.
Businesses trying to determine whether their organizations are using unlicensed software can download free software audit tools at www.bsaaudit.com.
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