How much is protecting intellectual property worth to the software industry? It seems to grow each year. And 2009 set a new record.
Datamation has the story about the latest efforts from one of the software industry’s principal trade group to deter piracy, and how big a windfall that resulted in for 24 tipsters last year.
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) paid out more than $127,000 in rewards to a total of 24 sources who reported cases of software or digital content piracy in 2009.
The SIIA, a trade association for the software and digital content industry, has stepped up its efforts in recent years to stem the illegal trafficking of billions of dollars worth of counterfeit and stolen software applications at online sites including eBay.
SIIA officials said the $127,000 in bounties was the highest amount it’s ever paid for tips since debuting its Anti-Piracy Reward Program in 2003.
“Thanks to our sources, 2009 was a banner year in the fight against software and content piracy in the workplace,” Keith Kupferschmid, SIIA’s senior vice president for intellectual property policy and enforcement, said in a statement. “The valuable information we received jumpstarted several investigations and helped SIIA continue the industry’s most aggressive campaign against software and content piracy.”
