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TMCNet: SIIA's 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' Campaign Extended as Cheated Consumers Fight Back Against Software Pirates

[October 30, 2008]

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.

A list of qualifying conditions is posted at: www.siia.net/piracy/dgmge/
Full program terms and conditions are posted on the SIIA website at: 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.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Keith Kupferschmid
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=40837
SIIA Communications Contact: Eileen Bramlet, ebramlet@siia.net
PR Contact: Beth Dozier, Rational PR, 202-429-1833, bethdozier@rationalpr.com
SOURCE Software & Information Industry Association
http://www.siia.net

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