Business Software Alliance (BSA)

BenjiSayers · 7 Sep 2011 at 14:27

Hey Guys and Gals

I've had the below letter come through and would like to know if any of you have ever had any dealings with the aforementioned company. Their original letter was worded in such a way as if they would do a check and then try and invoice us for the privillege so was just ignored now they have sent this through and I would like to know is this something I need to deal with or is it them just trying to push their luck? As I have no idea if they have any enforcable power etc.
Ta

Hatter The Mad · 7 Sep 2011 at 14:35

A quick Google tells you everything you need to know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Software_Alliance

stoofa · 7 Sep 2011 at 14:41

You can safely ignore them.
Like other companies once you initiate contact with them they will offer you services such as auditing tools etc.
We had a similar couple of letters from FAST a few years back.
In the end we made contact with them, told them we were not interested in their services and to please leave us alone.

When we got the licensing chat we told them that we are fully licensed as all companies should be.
If Microsoft or Adobe wish to audit our licenses that is their decision.

We stopped getting correspondence from them soon afterwards.

We do however always respond to requests from the software companies.
Both Microsoft and Adobe have contacted us with regards licensing.
Adobe was easy - we don't have many licenses, so I photocopied and sent over.
For MS licenses we had a Gold Partner come in to audit us and they then just told MS we were complient.

BenjiSayers · 7 Sep 2011 at 19:40

Cheers guys I shall ignore it and see what happens next

I've heard of these kind of things before but always assumed like Stoofa said that these things would come from the software companies themselves.

Strife212 · 7 Sep 2011 at 20:12

You can ignore them as long as you haven't entered into any contracts that permit them to investigate your business (some software contracts)

BenjiSayers · 7 Sep 2011 at 20:38

As far i'm aware we haven't. Are these the kind of things that would be hidden in the software agreements when installing software as we only use the basics such as Win XP/7, Office and Adobe Reader and the letter was addressed to the MD of the company and he would generally come to me regarding anything computer related as he is very much the technophobe.

bremen1874 · 3 Mar 2012 at 02:04

What was the eventual outcome to this?

I was at a client site today (yesterday now) and they had the same letter from the BSA. For the moment they’re ignoring it with the intention of responding via their solicitors if it becomes necessary.

I know that there aren’t going to be an significant licensing issues because I’ve always made sure they’ve bought the necessary licenses.