14 DAY TRIAL // In case you have been the one of the numerous victims out there who have bought pirated application from famous auction website, you now have the chance to take your money back. 'How?' it's the first question that may come in your mind. Well, the Software & Information Industry Association launched the 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even' campaign that allows the victims of software pirates to get their money back. All you need to do is to report the counterfeited software to the association, satisfy all the eligibility requirements necessary to participate in the program, and cash in the $500.
"The sale of pirated software doesn't only hurt the software industry", said Keith Kupferschmid, Senior VP Intellectual Property Policy & Enforcement. "It also hurts consumers. Consumers feel 'taken' when they buy software, only to find out when it arrives that the software is a fake - they did not get an instruction manual or can't get support from the software company. The Don't Get Mad, Get Even program is a way for unsuspecting buyers to get even with auction sellers who rip them off by selling them counterfeit software."
The campaign has already started on December 13th, 2007, and is available until January 30th, 2008. In case you're one of the 100 lucky people who receive the $500 prize, you have to buy legitimate software to replace the loss caused by the pirated content.
"Auction piracy would not be such a big problem if SIIA and its members could get better cooperation from eBay and other auction sites. Unfortunately, these sites are unwilling to take the actions necessary to reduce the high-volume software piracy taking place on their sites. If they truly wanted to create a healthy economic environment for the sale of software they would do more to address the problem. Since they haven't SIIA has had to step in to protect consumers and the software industry", Keith Kupferschmid added.