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Wouldn't you know it? The organizations who scream the loudest about how unauthorized copies are "theft" and how "piracy" is destroying their industries are just as likely to get caught making unauthorized copies themselves. In the past, for example, we've pointed out that the MPAA was using software in an unauthorized manner, and also that it had made unauthorized copies of a movie, against the demands of the movie's producer.Now, we find out (via Slashdot) that Sony BMG has been caught in a BSA raid with a ton of unauthorized software -- potentially up to 47% of the software at the offices.Now, I tend to think that BSA raids are highly questionable, but if it's true that Sony BMG is using unauthorized software, the company has some explaining to do. It's one of the major labels and has been a huge supporter of the RIAA's "anti-piracy" campaign.For a company so adamantly against piracy, it seems rather telling that it can't live up to its own standards.Considering the RIAA has been pushing for Congress to increase the statutory fines for copyright infringement, perhaps Sony would like to set a good example and pay at the high end of the range?
47% is global, not for Sony (Score:5, Informative)by ------ on Sunday March 30, @04:09PMPointDev's spokesman claiming that the BSA believes 47% of software used in corporations to be illegal -- whether he is referring to Sony in particular is not clear in the translation.I'm french so I can provide a more accurate translation:Selon la Business Software Alliance, une association regroupant les principaux éditeurs du marché, 47 % des programmes utilisés en entreprise le seraient de manière illégale en France...According to the Business Software Alliance, an organization representing the major software companies, 47% of the software used by businesses in France is used illegally. So 47% is the global number for french businesses, not limited to Sony. (emphasis mine)
Sony BMG one of the largest supporters of the RIAA and IFPI’s anti-piracy campaigns has had the tables turned on them this week by french software company PointDev, PointDev are now suing Sony BMG for software piracy of their products after a support call from a Sony IT employee.The pirated software was discovered when a Sony BMG IT worker called PointDev for support on one of their products named Ideal Migration, during this call the Sony worker was generous enough to supply a pirated licence code to the PointDev support department. The information PointDev had received was then used to request a seizure of Sony BMG asset’s which in turn led to the discovery of 4 servers that had pirated copies of Ideal Migration installed at Sony’s offices.
