Market Watch - SIIA's 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' Campaign Extended as Cheated Consumers Fight Back Against Software Pirates
You too can earn $500 shopping on eBay.
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Original article:
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SIIA's 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' Campaign Extended as Cheated Consumers Fight Back Against Software Pirates
WASHINGTON, Oct 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Victims of Auction Fraud Who Purchased Pirated Software Online Can be Awarded up to $500 For Reporting Counterfeit Sellers
Consumers Speak Out Against Fraudulent Software Sales!
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Software &
Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade
association for the software and digital information industries, today
announced it is extending its successful "Don't Get Mad, Get Even"
anti-piracy campaign in its fight to help protect consumers who
purchased illegal software online. The campaign allows buyers who
purchased counterfeit software on auction websites such as eBay to get
even with a fraudulent seller by reporting them to SIIA, which will
then pay them up to $500 to purchase a legitimate copy of the software.
"Auction sellers
who sell pirated software hurt the software industry and take advantage
of innocent consumers," noted Keith Kupferschmid, Senior Vice President
for Intellectual Property Policy & Enforcement. "The 'Don't Get
Mad, Get Even' program continues to provide consumers a way to
retaliate against online auction sellers who duped them into buying
pirated software."
"Not only does this
program help us identify illegal software sellers, but it sends a
powerful message to auction site pirates. After SIIA launched the first
campaign last year, sales of software on eBay dropped by 33 percent. In
addition to protecting consumers, this program will help SIIA put
fraudulent sellers out of business, and make potential pirates think
twice," Kupferschmid added.
The "Don't Get Mad, Get
Even" campaign will now be extended to January 15, 2009, as consumers
continue to fight back and speak up in the fight against piracy.
According to recent
illegal auction software customer Steve Coddington, "I recently
purchased a software program through an online dealer at a discounted
rate. When I received the software, I discovered it was pirated. I felt
ripped off. Sure, the software program might have seemed exactly the
same, but I paid for an original, NOT a copy of a knock-off!"
Unfortunately, instances
such as the one faced by Coddington are all too common. Another
consumer recently faced similar circumstances when he purchased through
Amazon.com. According to customer Steve Taylor, "I bought two copies of
Adobe Photoshop through Amazon, thinking that these would be authentic
products. Because it was through Amazon, I thought it was safe to buy
them, but I was mistaken. It turned out that both copies were
counterfeit. They were bought through two different storefronts. When I
notified one storefront, they refunded my money. The other told me I
was trying to rip them off and would not refund me. Then I heard about
"Don't Get Mad, Get Even," and filled out the forms for both software
copies. A week later, I heard back from the DGMGE program, and they are
working to resolve this situation for me."
In order to participate
in "Don't Get Mad, Get Even," individuals who have inadvertently
purchased pirated software on an auction site must complete an online
application and submit it to SIIA by no later than 5 p.m. EST on
January 15, 2009. Those who satisfy all eligibility requirements
necessary to participate in the program will be eligible to receive up
to $500 from SIIA. The payment is intended to encourage the buyer to
replace the counterfeit software with a legitimate copy, though
consumers are free to use the money as they see fit.
"While the 'Don't Get
Mad, Get Even' program gives consumers a way to fight back, it does not
solve the problem," Kupferschmid continued. "Auction and classified ad
sites must do more to stop counterfeit sellers. Until relevant sites
take the steps needed to solve the problem, SIIA will continue to take
the lead in protecting consumers and the software industry."
This program is part of
an SIIA effort to combat online auction piracy. SIIA continues to sue
sellers of counterfeit and illegal OEM and academic software through
its Auction Litigation Program. SIIA has also published software buying
guides that teach consumers the tricks used by unscrupulous sellers to
lure them into buying illegal software and to instruct them on what
questions to ask so they can avoid buying illegal software. Late last
year, SIIA launched its ground-breaking Certified Software Reseller
(CSR) Program(TM). Through this program, SIIA has, for the first time,
begun certifying online vendors to resell software on eBay and other
auction sites.
Full program terms and conditions are posted on the SIIA website at: www.siia.net/piracy/DGMGE_rules.pdf
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