BUSINESS

Sundav. September 8, 1991 - North Shore News - 29

WV firm detects software piracy

Illegal reproduction now a
problem in Western Canada

A NEW West Vancouver consulting company is offering
local computer-using businesses a software auditing ser-
vice to detect and eliminate pirated software.

**The problem is serious enough
that the Software Publishers
Association (SPA) and the RCMP
are gathering evidence in Western
Canada against’ organizations
suspected of software piracy,"’
said Hyde Consulting Group
president Adam Hyde.

Software piracy, the illegal
sepreduction of computer soft-
ware, is covered under the Cana-
dian Copyright Act. Software is
considered to be intellectual prop-
erty,

Users not adhering to software
licensing agreements could face
penalties of $25,000 to $1 million
for breach of the act.

The Hyde Consulting Group
began its service in July.

Said Hyde, ‘‘Our bes! response
has been from medium to large-
sized companies that don't have
computer experts in-house. Those
would be our primary clients.

“Assuming they've heard about
us their impetus to call us would
be out of a concern to iiot breach
any of the copyright laws and suf-
fer the publicity,"’ he added.

Hyde said prosecutions have
primarily centered in Eastern
Canada. ‘**But the SPA has been
investigating in Western Canada
as well. It’s a matter of time be-
fore they either publicly lay
charges or approach businesses
and make deals,”” he said.

The SPA is a Washington-based
organization funded by software
publishers.

From Hyde's perspective the
problem is widespread and tends

Michael
Becker |

HIGH TECH

to manifest itself in educational
institutions and also financial in-
stitutions. ‘It’s very dependent on
the control systems a company has
in place and how aware they are
of it. Management sets the tone
on piracy,"’ Hyde said.

Estimated losses due to software
piracy in Canada run at $190 to
$200 million annually.

Hyde believes companies should
educate their employees about the
tisks of illegally copying software.
“When we find unauthorized
software we recommend the com-
pany take a good look at why it is
being used. The software should
be purchased rather than elimi-
nated if it is making an employee
more productive,’’ he said.

News Photo Cindy Goodman

HYDE CONSULTING Group partners Adam Hyde (left) and father Alan Hyde (right), based in West
Vancouver, offer businesses a unique auditing service toe detect and eliminate pirated software in

the workplace.

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