COPYCENSE

"A nonprofit trade group formed by more than a dozen major software makers — including Microsoft and Adobe — the Business Software Alliance is charged with enforcing licensing and copyright protections. Personal contact with the software group usually comes in the form of a ‘software audit,’ in which the BSA, often acting on a tip from an angry current or former employee, combs through a company’s PC stock, matching installed programs with licenses. Companies that come up short can be forced to pay big fines and buy tons of new licenses.

"But BSA executives say the group’s role isn’t to be the tough guy. Instead, they’re around to protect the interests of software makers, through a combination of enforcement action, education and governmental lobbying."

David Becker. Software Piracy: Hype Versus Reality. News.com. Aug. 2, 2004.