SIIA may sue eBay
July 29, 2008
The SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association) has stated it may file a lawsuit for failing to stop piracy on eBay. This announcement follows a successful perfume lawsuit which forced eBay to stop fake designer goods being sold on eBay.
The SIIA claims that eBay has refused to implement measures recommended by the group to halt the availability of pirated software on worlds largest online auction site. The SIIA has in the past only prosecuted individuals, however this announcement signals a move by companies and industries to cutting the problem out at the root, and, in their opinion, the buck stops with eBay.
Buying software on Ebay is risky for businesses seeking to establish compliance with software licenses and copyright laws. Many companies are seduced by low prices but often put themselves at risk by purchasing counterfeit software. Ebay purchases are rarely credited in software audits conducted by the BSA and SIIA so the big loser in this scam is the purchaser. If you are looking for discounts on legitimate software check out http://www.viosoftware.com. My clients have been buying software from this company for years without a problem.
Rob Scott
Scott & Scott, LLP
800.596.6176