SIIA's Bogus Bounty For Turning In Software Counterfeiters: Read The Fine Print

from the good-luck-with-that dept

Fri, Dec 21st 2007 8:35am — Mike Masnick

We've already talked about the BSA's misleading program to get people to turn in their employers for using unauthorized copies of software. Now, sister organization, SIIA, has introduced its own silly program. Reader Jon writes in to let us know that the SIIA is supposedly offering $500 to anyone who "turns in" someone who sold them counterfeit software online. While the SIIA says it hopes that the recipient of the $500 uses it to buy legitimate copies of the software, they don't have to. At first glance, this program looks like it creates a system that gives people incentives to buy counterfeit software. After all, why not buy the counterfeit software, collect the reward and pocket it, while keeping the software? However, if you read the fine print, you'll realize that the program is quite limited. It's not really $500. It's "up to" $500, apparently at the SIIA's sole discretion. And... it's only open to the first 100 people who qualify. And... they'll get to use your name in press releases and force you to post feedback on eBay about how the seller sold you counterfeit software. And... it doesn't appear that you get any amnesty for having the software, meaning you could eventually be liable yourself for using counterfeit software (though, you have to give up the software to the SIIA, but if you installed it first...). Then, there's the best part. If the SIIA winds up in a court case with whoever you turn it, you may be required to testify -- and (wait for it...) the SIIA may reimburse your expenses, but if they do, those expenses will be reduced by the amount the SIIA paid as a reward. In other words, the "reward" simply becomes a prepayment on just some of the expenses you incur to testify on the SIIA's behalf. How nice of them.

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Filed Under: incentives, rewards, software piracy
Companies: siia

11 Comments

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Alfred E. Neuman, 21 Dec 2007 @ 8:43am

Wow, that sounds like a really good deal.

This sort of humor may already be patented. Do I get a reward for turning them in?
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TheDock22, 21 Dec 2007 @ 9:01am

You know...
Most people won't read the fine print before enrolling in the program. I can't wait to see the lawsuits against SIIA for this one.
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 21 Dec 2007 @ 9:05am

A Challenge
Techdirt,
Will you also match this reward as you will match BSA's reward if it is ever given? Of course, I have no idea how you would match SIIA's proposal, but you'll think of something.
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Max Powers, 21 Dec 2007 @ 9:37am

Casting Call
This seems like it's their way of finding a few people that they can use for a marketing campaign.
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Thom, 21 Dec 2007 @ 9:48am

Haha
I read of this moments after it appeared as a topic on Slashdot. Plainly obvious in the sentence describing the bounty was "up to" so I started to comment and make fun, but I thought to gave the terms a cursory glance first. I made as far as the part about the first 100 people before I quit and passed on commenting because I assumed nearly everyone would be pointing these obvious things out.

Imagine my surprise when I returned hours later to find that of the hundreds of comments only two people had noticed the "up to" and maybe one had read the further terms. Everyone else was busy planning on how they'd spend their $500.

Jeeze Slashdot-ers, could you possibly be a bigger bunch of morons? I bet even the digg users picked up on the "up to". No wonder the SIIA felt they could include such rediculous terms.
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- Hey, 21 Dec 2007 @ 2:06pm
  
  Re: Haha
  Angry Dude, is that you?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2007 @ 10:09am
    
    Re: Re: Haha
    Angry Dude, is that you?
    Angry Dude would be on the SIIA's side. He's all for this kind of stuff.
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James, 21 Dec 2007 @ 11:11am

HAHAHAHA!!
Anyone who helps these a-holes gets exactly what they deserve.
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- Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2007 @ 10:10am
  
  Re: HAHAHAHA!!
  Anyone who helps these a-holes gets exactly what they deserve.
  
  I doubt it. They actually deserve much worse.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Dec 2007 @ 1:09am

Sounds like a counterfeit bounty.
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technodirt diver, 19 Feb 2008 @ 12:18am

Duhh
wow, siia; another great example scam artists exploiting people. siia is just a bunch of deadbeats looking to make some big bucks by exploiting innocent individuals and their annonymity by laying out lawsuits; of which the actual company who creates the software to begin with gets virtually nothing from the lawsuits; nearly all goes into the greedy bastards at siia's pockets. siia = scam artists

siia go ahead and try to sue me too!

kudos to everyone here on techdirt.com!!! keeping the truth alive!
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