BSA, PISO join hands against Internet piracy

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the Philippine Internet Service Organization (PISO) have signed a memorandum of understanding on combating piracy on the Internet.

The BSA and PISO agreed to work together to address the problem of Internet piracy, particularly in generating greater awareness and appreciation of the crucial role of Internet service providers (ISPs) in preventing the spread of Internet piracy among Philippine servers.

Internet piracy is the unauthorized reproduction and online advertising and distribution of software programs through, among other means, Web downloads and making available, through the Internet, counterfeit software packages via auction sites.

"Internet piracy is a growing menace throughout the world, holding back the progress of the IT industry and the benefits it brings to a country’s economy. PISO must be commended for recognizing this and taking a strong stand in upholding IPR laws in the Philippines," said Stuart Ong, BSA vice president for the Philippines.

"This cooperation between BSA and PISO sends a strong message to pirates that (the two groups) will not tolerate any form of piracy in cyberspace. We will constantly be on the lookout for websites promoting software piracy," said Ong.

PISO, an organization of ISPs with a vision to help ensure that the benefits of Internet access be made available to the broadest sectors of Philippine society, and BSA will consider adopting a Code of Conduct on IP for ISPs and a Model Internet Service Usage Policy. They also agreed to undertake a takedown notice program based on the said Code of Conduct.

The BSA and PISO also agreed to engage in joint awareness and education activities such as seminars for local ISPs, content providers and other interested parties, production of promotional brochures against Internet piracy, and banner-linking the BSA and PISO websites.

PISO is the third major IT organization which BSA has signed an MoU to jointly fight violators of IPR laws. First was the National Information Technology Council, now known as the Information Technology and E-Commerce Council (ITECC), and second was the Philippine Software Association. BSA is pleased to have these three as its allies in the anti-piracy campaign.

BSA is a non-profit international association of the biggest software manufacturers fighting software piracy worldwide. Its members include Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft and Symantec. BSA recently increased its reward from P100,000 to P1 million to further encourage the public to call the hotline and report software piracy cases in companies. The reward awaits anyone who calls the BSA anti-piracy hotline and provides information leading to a successful action against a corporation end-user.