CAAST: creative re-interpretation
p2pnet.net News View:- A CAAST press release talks about a recent survey they hired Decima to conduct and which shows up CAAST’s creative re-interpretation of surveys.
I’m familiar with their standard “piracy studies” which don’t adequately differentiate lawful competition from infringement. This press release has them claiming that there is a problem with “personal and corporate ethics” simply because Canadians don’t agree with their belief that infringing software copyright should be considered more offensive than keeping incorrect change from store clerks.
The Toronto Daily News included quotes from Jacquie Famulak, president of CAAST:
To avoid the risks associated with software piracy, we urge employers to adopt and maintain proper software management systems and consumers to make smart decisions when it comes to acquiring or upgrading software.
I agree with the words, but not the meaning. I believe individuals and employers should switch to Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) alternatives to BSA/CAAST member software. This would avoid the problem entirely since FLOSS doesn’t charge per-unit royalty fees, and thus legalizes the de-minimus actions that CAAST is overly concerned about.
If you don’t like the price-tag for CAAST software, the best action is to switch to alternatives.
Whether or not you believe it’s economically harmful, infringing CAAST member copyright increases CAAST’s political clout and ability to push for radical changes to the law which will harm everyone.
Russell McOrmond – p2pnet contributing editor
[McOrmond is an independent author (software and non-software) who uses modern business models and licensing (Free/Libre and Open Source Software, Creative Commons). He's also the CLUE policy coordinator.]
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