Techdirt Extends Promise To Pay Up To $1 Million For Proof Of BSA $1 Million Reward
from the again,-please-note-the- dept
You may recall that, over the summer, the Business Software Alliance, got a lot of press for supposedly offering $1 million to folks who reported their employers to the BSA for using unauthorized software. A $1 million reward seems like a big deal -- the type likely to generate lots of press and (the BSA hoped) get more people to snitch on their bosses. Except, when you looked at the fine print, you realized that the BSA had all sorts of conditions, and the reward was really "up to" $1 million, pretty much entirely at the discretion of the BSA. So they could claim a $1 million award, and then pay out a lot less. In fact, when a CNET reporter went searching for how much the BSA had actually paid out, she could only find awards of about $5,000. So, that prompted us to promise "up to" $1 million to anyone who could prove the BSA gave a single person a $1 million reward -- with how much we actually pay out entirely up to our own discretion. Anyway, it would appear that the original announcement didn't get the BSA enough attention (or enough snitching), so it's now announced that it's extending the (not really) $1 million reward program that supposedly had an end date. And, of course, the press dutifully report this news. So, in response, we'd like to announce that we're also extending our "up to $1 million" reward to anyone who can show that the BSA actually has paid an individual $1 million for snitching on his boss for using unauthorized software. Given how much press attention the BSA announcement got, we're surprised no one's reporting on our offer as well.
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Folks always like to get back at the one who unemployed them.
Here is a question. Should I contact the BSA and tell them to give me that award with the agreement that I will refund them $900K from the amount I receive from Techdirt? If anyone from the BSA reads this, I would be happy to get you some publicity that way.
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Let the bidding begin!
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Self Promotion in Ethics - - -
A local company had a fired employee blow the whistle - the (unused but also no longer licensed) programs were on HIS backup drive.
The company took a creative approach - they paid their fine and switched 100% to Linux. Bye bye Micorsoft & BSA.
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Re:
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you're thinking small!
this is so patently absurd that everyone (who can read:) will assume there's a catch, and many will thereby be prompted to recognize the deception in the "up to". you will be more likely to make your point, and just by airing the proposition. more journalists will notice "billion" than "million" (multi-millionaires are a, um, dime a dozen, nows a day), and more importantly, more journalists will be amused (i expect), and write something about it.
no criticism, by the way - i've been enjoying your articles and attitude for a while now, thanks!
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The Media's a Player
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See, that is why so many people are irritated with Mike. Always cutting into profit margins.
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Originally posted *here* in July
Does the story get better the second time it's posted on the same site, as long as you wait a few months so people forget?
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Uh, huh...
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I'll help get the ball rolling
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Re: Originally posted *here* in July
Does the story get better the second time it's posted on the same site, as long as you wait a few months so people forget?
You know... it helps to actually read the post you're complaining about before you yell at us. :)
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Lol
As for post #5, don't call it patently absurd.
Some stupid lawyer will try to patent the business model of offering a 'pay up to' reward. .. .. If it isn't already.
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Obvious
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