As a member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA) since 2007, Tekla takes part in their anti-piracy program in EMEA, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Campaigns, raids, and lawsuits prove a steady progress against illegal use of Tekla software in these areas.
The BSA membership provides Tekla an international network to better protect its customers' investment by ensuring fair competition. At the same time, Tekla has a chance to stress the importance of using legal versions of its products. The results of the cooperation have encouraged Tekla to raise the fight against software piracy into an important strategic element in its operations. Anyone can now confidentially report illegal use of Tekla software on the Tekla Website.
“The first BSA raids were arranged in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam in the fall 2009,” says
Ari Nässi, Tekla's Area Director in Malaysia. Before any penalty actions, Tekla expects and encourages the caught companies to legalize their software. “Cooperation with BSA is developing and definitely paying off. As a result of the warnings and raids, we have been able to legalize dozens of Tekla Structures software licenses in 2009. Legalized licenses contributed a significant part of, for example, our Indonesian sales last year.”
“During the past six months, our operations with the BSA have intensified,” Nässi continues. “Tekla customers very much encourage us to proceed with the raids to protect their investment, and we’re campaigning to reward tips that lead to legalizing licenses. Thailand is now in the process of becoming activated, and our next focus area will be Korea.”
“Athough many successful raids have been carried out in the previous years, software piracy in Latin America is still one of the main concerns among our customers,” says
Jose Cosculluela, Tekla representative and BSA contact for South America and Spain. “Often the reason appointed by our detailing customers, when they lose a project, is that another company with illegal licenses has made a cheap offer impossible to compete with.”
“In order to answer to the concern of our customers, we have met them and set the basis to act against piracy together. Cooperation is working really well; we are getting leads and very good information through many channels for all of Latin America. This year the involvement of the BSA will increase and further actions will be taken,” says Coscullela.
“2010 is the 20th anniversary of the very active BSA in Spain,” Cosculluella continues. “This means that BSA will be campaigning even more actively and increase their good relations with the government. We have recently succeeded in raiding several licenses for two medium-sized steel companies,” he concludes.
For additional information or feedback, please contact us by e-mail:
piracy@tekla.com
BSA
BSA is a non-profit trade association established to advance the goals of the software industry regarding piracy. It represents one of the fastest growing industries in the world, working with member companies and in some cases with their distributors. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include major software providers, such as Adobe, Apple, IBM, Microsoft and SAP. BSA has a global organization and members in more than 80 countries with headquarters in Washington D.C in the US. More information at
www.bsa.org
Tekla
Tekla’s model-based software products make customers’ core processes more effective in building and construction and infrastructure management. Tekla Corporation has area offices and partner organizations worldwide. International operations account for approximately 80% of net sales. Founded in 1966, Tekla is one of the longest operating software companies in Finland. More information at
www.tekla.com
Tekla Structures
Tekla's technology creates new opportunities for the construction industry. Tekla Structures, the most advanced BIM (Building Information Modeling) software on the market, provides an accurate, dynamic, and data-rich 3D environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers. The highly detailed as-built structural models created in Tekla Structures enable the highest level of constructability and production control. Centralizing model and non-model based data into the model allows for more collaborative and integrated project management and delivery. This translates into increased productivity, elimination of waste, and an enhanced value for structural modeling. More information at
www.teklastructures.com