Since that time, similar orders have been issued in other countries including Colombia, Thailand and China. I think what challenges a state government is that these people don't do the audits that are necessary to know what is installed on their systems. While calling California's action very good news, Beruk said the state needs to name a person to oversee the software compliance project and come up with a deadline for implementing the policy. What I haven't seen here is when does this need to be done. Gov. Davis for taking a strong stand on software piracy and leading by example on this important issue.
Membership spans the telecommunications and computer firms to software and semiconductor companies.
They said that Davis' order is especially important because government agencies are among the largest users of software and can be trendsetters in mandating higher standards for purchasing authentic software. Guinn was the first governor to sign such a measure. The state purchases millions of dollars worth of computer equipment and services every year, so it's crucial that we guard against violations of copyright laws. According to the BSA, 29.7 percent of software used in California in 1998 was pirated, an increase over the 1997 rate of 21.8 percent. The national piracy rate is 25 percent.