There is no refuge in emerging countries for software pirates. In Brazil, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) recently obtained its largest ever judgement for software copyright infringement. Engineering company, Smar Equipamentos Industriais has been ordered to pay 3000 times the retail value of illegal software to defendants - design software specialist, Autodesk, and Microsoft.

The company had 580 unlicensed software programs valued at around US$262 639. In terms of the Brazilian Copyright Act, Smar was ordered to pay the defendants in the region US$787,9 million.

Chairman of the BSA, Mark Reynolds, says software legalisation and damages in South Africa during 1999 amounted to R10m, the highest figure to date. "This is encouraging and shows that the BSA is reaching and taking action against those perpetrating software theft.

"We will continue to encourage action against software theft but we believe major inroads are being made through legal actions and educating the market. We need to understand that to become accepted in the world software economy which is an industry offering South Africans huge opportunities, we need to play according to international rules. If South Africa can get its piracy rate down, we will be respected as a reliable and mature business partner, encouraging more companies to do business with us."

Says Errol Ashwell, Managing Director of Autodesk Africa: "Many engineering houses would be horrified if someone stole their designs, but some do not seem to mind stealing our software. This judgement sends out a very clear message that software pirates had better beware. The BSA is ruthless about rooting out offenders and when they get caught, they are not going to get away with a rap over the knuckles."

Autodesk

(011) 318 2900

www.autodesk.com

geo-south-africa@autodesk.com