MASTERING MANAGEMENTWhat Do You Know About
Software Management?Partnership provides software strategies and copyright compliance tools for small businesses. WASHINGTON (June 4, 2007) - Last year, the United States lost $6.9 billion as a result of software piracy. Furthermore, small businesses are less likely to recognize the benefits a software policy affords. According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), small businesses paid more than $11.4 million in fines to settle software piracy claims in 2006 alone. In response, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and BSA have joined together to educate small businesses on proper software management and the risks associated with using unlicensed software. The
"Software Strategies for Small Businesses" partnership will provide small businesses and SBA resource partners - including SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business," Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and SBA district offices - with a set of software asset-management tools and educational materials that will help small businesses establish, communicate and enforce policies that ensure copyright compliance in the work force.
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StatisticsAccording to the "Software Management Survey," conducted by Yankelovich Partners for BSA, small businesses in the United States are at the greatest risk for software piracy damages because of their lack of established software management practices.
Additionally, the "Global Software Piracy Study," conducted by Interactive Data Corp. for BSA shows that 21 percent of software in the United States is unlicensed. "This exceptional partnership with the BSA will help small businesses be smart about software use, and protect themselves against the risks of unlicensed software," says SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston.
SBA and BSA's "Software Strategies for Small Businesses" Web site (www.smartaboutsoftware.org) offers small business owners:
* "Best practices" publications that communicate guidelines on implementing software asset management programs.
* Educational materials, such as a guide to software management, "Ten Steps for Software Compliance" fact sheet, the "Software Piracy and the Law" fact sheet and software audit tools.
* An interactive Web page that includes free software audit tools, fact sheets and topical software management articles. "BSA welcomes this unique opportunity to work with the SBA - one of the most influential advocates for small businesses in the United States," says Robert Holleyman, president and CEO of BSA. "BSA strongly supports the success of small businesses and recognizes the vital role they play in the U.S. economy. This alliance allows BSA and the SBA to communicate proper software strategies that promote network security, and provide financial and legal benefits that are critical to the long-term success of any small business." For more information about SBA and BSA's "Software Strategies for Small Businesses" partnership, visit
www.smartaboutsoftware.org.
(Sources: SBA, BSA) 
