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One in Four Professionals Pirate Software

According to a recent survey of 1,500 professionals, including architects, 90 percent agree software piracy is a Arisk no business can afford to take,@ yet 23 percent of them admit that some of the software in their organization is unlicensed.  The results of the independent survey, which was conducted by Ipsos public Affairs for the Business Software Alliance (BSA), can be found at
(www.bsa.org/usa/2milliontuesday.cfm).

AThis disconnect between belief and behavior is a contributing factor to the 22 percent piracy rate in the United States, which amounted to a loss of $6.5 billion for the software industry last year,@ said Sandy Boulton, director of the Piracy Prevention Program at Autodesk, a founding member of the BSA.  AArchitects, who have a right to protect their original ideas, should respect our right to protect our intellectual property, which is our software.@

AIn speaking with numerous colleagues, I have found that many firms focus on the creative aspects of business and tend to neglect to software management side,@ said Edward J. D=Amore, president of D=Amore Design Studio and past president of the AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapter.  AThis can be a costly and embarrassing mistake that can damage a company=s reputation.@

Software Asset Management Toolkit

Most companies who use unauthorized software have poor software management policies and fail to budget for additional software resources.  The free Autodesk Software Asset Management Toolkit provides guidelines and templates to help companies ensure the legal and ethical use of software.  By first using original licensed products, and then by enforcing compliance throughout the company, successful software management can be achieved.

Architectural firms can follow these guidelines and use the templates in the Toolkit to execute a plan.
Establish a program to ensure that your company is always in compliance with the law by conducting regular software audits.
Profile each computer and user in your company.
Establish a budget.
Put in place a process to account for your software inventory.
Take appropriate steps if you discover unauthorized copying.
Be consistent with your organization=s policy and with the law to ensure that any problems are corrected and not repeated.

The keys to managing software and avoiding situations where employees may be tempted to copy software illegally are good planning and budgeting and a well-documented policy that is regularly communicated throughout the company.  Firms can use the following template forms, which are included in the Software Asset Management Toolkit, to get started.
Company Software Policy
Software Code of Ethics
Software Budget Planning
Software Register (Electronic and Manual)
Employee Memorandum
Checklist

To download a free Software Asset Management Toolkit to customize for your company, get answers to your questions about licensing, or report illegal copying of Autodesk software confidentially, contact Autodesk at 1.800.NO.COPIES or visit www.autodesk.com/piracy.

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