**************************************************************************** >C O M P U T E R U N D E R G R O U N D< >D I G E S T< *** Volume 1, Issue #1.05 (April 22, 1990) ** **************************************************************************** MODERATORS: Jim Thomas / Gordon Meyer REPLY TO: TK0JUT2@NIU.bitnet COMPUTER UNDERGROUND DIGEST is an open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views. -------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The views represented herein do not necessarily represent the views of the moderators. Contributors assume all responsibility for assuring that articles submitted do not violate copyright protections. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************** *** Computer Underground Digest Issue #1.05 / File 3 of 5 *** *************************************************************** THE SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION: DON'T CALL US, WE'LL CALL YOU. NOTE!! Several attempts have been made to obtain information from the SPA regarding their programs, charter, and membership information. Despite multiple promises I have not yet received any information that I have requested. Therefore what is stated about the organization, it's purpose, and history is based on independent piece-meal research and has not been supplied by the SPA. The Software Publisher's Association is an industry organization composed of small, medium, and large software publishing firms. One of their chief activities in the past has been to wage a public relations battle against "software piracy". This campaign, largely through print ads in major computer magazines, has emphasized the illegality of trading software programs with coworkers and friends. To my knowledge they have not directed their attention to the CU realm of the pirate, and in fact, up until recently, have largely avoided using the label "pirate" at all. One of the newest "weapons" the SPA has unleashed against software trading is something called a "corporate audit". My knowledge of this is hazy (see above notation) but from what I can gather it is a process that corporations submit to voluntarily. The SPA will conduct an audit of magnetic media (hard drives, etc) used on a corporation's computers to assist them in complying with copyright laws and license agreements. Again the thrust of the program is directed to the corporate world, not the Computer Underground. However the SPA has taken some steps to curb the CU trading of "warez". One of these techniques has been to open a toll-free "snitch line" where people could call and report BBS systems that have copyrighted programs in their download areas. This "snitch line" (my term, I don't know what they call it...again, see above notation.) differs from an SPA program of a few years ago when they offered a $100.00 dollar reward for turning in Pirate bulletin board systems. At that time the caller had to supply a list of downloadable files, the number of the board, the name and address of the sysop, and a valid sign on and password to the board in question. To the best of my knowledge the current program does not offer a monetary reward, and they extent of the information they are requesting may have changed. I recently called the "snitch line" as a participant observational experiment in turning in a Pirate bulletin board. My intent was to determine the information collected by the SPA and the conceptualization of "piracy" and "warez" that was being used. Below is an account and transcript of that conversation. -------------- Software Publisher's Association Monday 2/19/90 I dialed the SPA "turn in a pirate board" number that I had picked up somewhere in my bbs travels. 1-800-388-PIRS...cute, but not cute enough to be considered bagging the whole warez scene. The phone was ringing... "Hello, Warren (or something that sounded like Warren) Travel", a male voice said. "Errrr, I think I've reached a wrong number, who is this?" "Warren Travel, are you trying to get a hold of that software place?" I told him that I was. "They published our number by accident. Sorry." I apologized to him and hung up. I should have asked him how many calls he had been getting...would be some indication of how much activity a snitch hotline could generate. I wonder if the SPA is paying for this guys phone bill? Toll free calls cost about fifty cents... I then tried toll free information, and asked for the Software Publishers Association. No listing. Hmmmm, have they given up the "report a pirate line" idea? I called information for the District of Columbia and got the office number for the SPA. After about 10 rings (yes, ten..this was not at lunch time) a guy answered... "Software Publishers Association". "Hi, I was wondering what kind of mechanisms you have in place for people who want to report a pirate bulletin board." "Give me the number." (curtly) "That's it? That's your mechanism?" (about 4 seconds of silence) "What have you got?" "A pirate bbs, 100 megs, pirated software for IBM, Atari, and Amiga." (about 3 seconds of silence) "Where did you get the number?" "Off a list a bbs somewhere, I don't know for sure." "What did it say?" "The listing? It's a list of BBS's...it said the name of the board and gave the phone number." "No, _this_ number." (sounding frustrated or hurried) "Your number? I called information and asked for the SPA!" (silence) "Can you give us a lot of information on this board? Who's the sysop? What's his address?" "I don't know that. All I have is the number and it's a pirate board. First time callers get full access to all the downloads and you can see the files right there." "oh. Well, give me the phone number." "Okay, 708/555-5555" (I gave him the phone number for the local Telenet port.) (about 3 seconds of silence) "We'll look into it." "What are you going to do?" (more silence) "We'll look into it." "I see, and what's your name please?" (again, some silent hesitation) "Ken" "Okay, Ken. Bye." >click< (Ken hung up w/out saying anything else) end of transcript. Total time for call, approx 3 minutes. ____________________________________ I believe the transcript portrays the uninterested, slightly rude manner in which my call was taken. The fact that Ken was suspicious of where I had gotten the number to his office, and failed to query me as to the contents, location, etc of the board I was supposedly reporting indicates to me that either I reached an individual that was not accustomed to answering the phone for these calls (as may be indicated by the excessive number of rings he took to answer, maybe the secretary was ill that day) or, perhaps, a lack of seriousness on the part of the SPA in dealing with this "crime". The Software Publishers Association is a leading source of unverified (and un-verifiable) information regarding the expense and extent of "piracy". Here we have seen just how interested they appear to be when presented with an opportunity to squelch what may have been, for all they knew, a "major supplier of pirated software". Postscript: I have since learned that the correct number for the "snitch line" is 800/388-PIR8. As of yet I have not repeated my experiment. Others are welcome to do so and I'd appreciate hearing GRM 72307.1502@compuserve.com =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ + END THIS FILE + +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+===+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= y Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253 12yrs+