South African software developers realise the benefit of protecting their intellectual property – and organisations like the Business Software Alliance (BSA) offer them a platform and a voice in the industry.
Although the BSA is traditionally thought to be an organisation run by and for the benefit of the large international software vendors, smaller developers face the same problems.
Marius Haman, head of the local chapter of the BSA, explains that piracy and the use of unlicensed software is a huge issue for all developers. One local company that he works with reports that well over 50% of its software in the field is unlicensed, which has huge implications for the company.
Belonging to an organisation like the BSA also gives smaller developers access to other anti-piracy and IP protection organisations like SAFACT and CIPC. They are also able to leverage education campaigns run by the BSA.
