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SIIA 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' Campaign Lets Cheated Consumers Fight Back Against Software Pirates

Victims of Auction Fraud Who Purchased Pirated Software Online Can be Awarded up to $500 For Reporting Counterfeit Sellers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital information industries, today announced that it is re-launching 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," said Keith Kupferschmid, Senior Vice President for Intellectual Property Policy & Enforcement. "The 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' program gives 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 run from September 8, 2008, to October 31, 2008. In order to participate, 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 October 31, 2008. 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. "eBay and other auction sites must do more to stop counterfeit sellers. Until auction 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.

A list of qualifying conditions is posted at http://www.siia.net/piracy/dgmge/

Full program terms and conditions are posted on the SIIA website at http://www.siia.net/piracy/DGMGE_rules.pdf

About SIIA

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies. For further information, visit www.siia.net.

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Keith Kupferschmid

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SOURCE Software & Information Industry Association

Tags: ,STW,CPR,MLM,REA,POL,SIIA-Pirated-Software

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