Microsoft’s distributor fires a broadside at university pirates

Press, 4 November 1986, Page 28

Microsoft’s distributor fires a broadside at university pirates

Computer editor University administrations have supported a warning by Mr Brian Eardley-Wilmot of legal action against software pirates in universities. Mr Eardley-Wilmot, formerly of the Apple master agent in New Zealand, CED Distributors, Ltd, is now managing director of Brimaur Computer Services, Ltd, of Auckland the New Zealand distributor of Microsoft software. He has sent a warning to universities that he will sue people using illegal copies of Microsoft programs unless these are surrendered by November 30. Company staff had

found copies were being made openly at universities, he said. "It’s happening in all universities. “It costs Microsoft and it costs the people who write those programs because they are paid from royalties. In each university it’s costing us tens of thousands of dollars,” he said. “Someone has to make a stand on this. We give concessions to educational institutions. Mr Eardley-Wilmot said on Friday evening that he had received full support from two universities after his warning.” Dr Colin Boswell, chairman of the joint universities’ computer committee, said illegal copying of

programs was a problem around the world; the universities had a lot of sympathy for Microsoft Mr Robin Harrington, ‘ acting head of the computer centre at the University of Canterbury, said he opposed illegal software copying. Apart from the copyright infringement, it meant that development costs were shared by fewer buyers. Therefore copying meant dearer (legitimate) programs. It is difficult for a university to police software copyright. The University of Canterbury owns between 500 and 600 microcomputers. In addition there are staff-owned machines. IBM clones are domin-

ant, but there are many true blue IBM PCs and Apples. Mr Robinson believes site agreements are one mean of reducing piracy. These allow a firm or institution to make as many copies as it wishes for one purchase price, or fee (in the case of a lease). Canterbury University has a site licence to use the Fortran language for $3500 a year. Many software companies build in sophisticated measures to beat copying. One burns tiny laser holes in master diskettes. The program looks for these, and if they are not there, siezes up. But the computer users are hot on the makers’

heels. In computer magazines copying programs are advertised and few owners of a PC or clone do not have a copy (not a bought version of the well-known programs, Copy II PC or Copywrite. Some companies are trying to beat pirating by competitive pricing. In America it is suggested that as few as one copy in 40 of some of the major programs is bought. The software maker, Borland International; with a series of fine products, has slashed retail prices so that its packages sell for under SUSIOO, much less than prices of most packages. Borland’s proportion of

pirated copies to sold copies has plummeted, and the firm is undoubtedly computer users’ most warmly regarded manufacturer. As the war against copying draws on the term for copying of software is changing. Piracy seems to bemoving to cover the activities of those who sell copied software, rather than those who just use it Mr Eardley, Wilmotwhose main targets are those making money selling pirated copies of Microsoft programs, said angrily on Friday that their activities were “not piracy, they were theft.” He forgets they used to hang pirates, and merely transport thieves.