Subject: Re: [linux-audio-user] Slightly OT
From: Jan \ (eviltwin69_AT_cableone.net)
Date: Sun Mar 02 2003 - 02:01:32 EET
If I were running a large company I'd start moving now. If that's what
you get for 8 unlicensed copies I'd hate to see what would happen with
500.
Jan
On Sun, 2003-03-02 at 05:38, Darren Landrum wrote:
> I remember reading about this some time ago.
>
> The BSA is running into a very interesting problem: Their heavy-handed
> tactics are driving customers away. Basically, they got their $90K out of
> Ernie Ball, and went away short-term happy, so Sterling decided to make
> their long term numbers suffer.
> Anyone want to start a betting pool on the next company to switch to
> Free/Open Software due to the BSA?
> The thing is, though, is that Ernie Ball is a relatviely small company,
> and making a complete switch (almost literally overnight) was not that
> difficult for them. Now what would happen if, say, HP got hit by millions
> in fines from the BSA (other than more layoffs...)? They wouldn't have the
> ready option of switching because they are too big of a company.
> Since most music companies are smaller (Yamaha being a notable exception),
> I wonder if any others have plans to follow suit just to avoid an audit...
> Anyone know?
>
> -- Darren
>
>
> >Jan \Evil Twin\ Depner
> > I know that there are quite a few musicians on this list so I thought
> > they might be interested in this (if they didn't already know about
> > it).
> >
> > I was reading an article yesterday (I don't remember where) that was
> > talking about the BSA fining businesses for unlicensed software. Lo
> > and behold, the first business cited (for 8 unlicensed copies of M$)
> > was Ernie Ball/Music Man. Apparently they got stung for $90,000.00 US.
> > The article stated that Ernie Ball immediately switched to "open
> > source" and never looked back. Being a curious person, I sent an email
> > to Ernie Ball to find out what "open source" meant. The answer is Red
> > Hat
> > Linux. It's nice to see a fairly large music business getting the
> > message.
> >
> > It appears that the BSA may be one of open source's biggest allies.
> >
> >
> > Jan
>
>
>
> Regards,
> Darren Landrum
>
>
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