CAAST TO LAUNCH SOFTWARE ANTI-PIRACY CAMPAIGN
By Adnews Staff
The Toronto-based Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST) will be launching a campaign through magazines and computer retailers in October that will alert consumers and retailers to the dangers of computer software piracy. Pirated software runs the risk of being low-quality and virus-riddled, does not contain guarantees or warranties and does not enable the consumer to access product support and telephone help lines. The "Say Yes to Legal Software" campaign will include three different ads that will be seen in consumer and trade computer magazines. There will also be brochures and posters in all of Canada's major software retailers telling consumers how to avoid illegal products. The campaign used work designed by the Business Software Alliance, CAAST's United Kingdom counterpart, which was changed slightly by CAAST for the Canadian market. CAAST officials hope that the program will eventually be extended to Value Added Resellers (VARs), distributors and Original Equipment Managers (OEMs). It will run indefinitely.