NovaLogic fined for software violation

[General Nuisance]

NovaLogic fined for software violation

Calabasas firm used programs without license

By Allison Bruce, abruce@VenturaCountyStar.com
December 8, 2005

Music fans aren't the only ones getting caught for illegal copying and downloading. On a typical day, the Business Software Alliance is investigating about 700 companies suspected of using unlicensed software programs.

On Wednesday, the Washington, D.C.-based alliance representing top software developers reported it had fined five Los Angeles-area businesses more than $500,000 for using software for which they did not have licenses.


One of those businesses was Calabasas-based NovaLogic Inc., a software developer.

NovaLogic creates games for computers and consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox. The company was fined $153,500 after an audit found it had unlicensed copies of Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, FileMaker, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec software on its computers.

Other businesses fined included electronic trading services company FutureTrade Technology, marketing company Launchpad Communications, Mountain High Resort and money transfer company RIA Financial.

"NovaLogic Inc. is committed to full compliance with software licensing requirements," President Lee Milligan said in a statement. "As a software developer, our organization depends on respect for our intellectual property rights. NovaLogic regrets the inadvertent violation of license agreements and is committed to rigorous respect for the intellectual property rights of others."

Software development firms and others involved with intellectual property are pretty commonly found on the list of companies using unlicensed software, said Jenny Blank, BSA's director of enforcement.

"It goes to show this is a blind spot for everybody," she said. "A company knows how many desks, phones or computers it has, but because they don't touch or feel software ... they don't treat it with the same kind of care when they manage it."

The alliance investigates a wide range of companies, large and small, that have unlicensed software. Blank said sometimes a company buys a few copies of a program and loads it onto more computers than it has licenses. Sometimes, someone brings in a copy or downloads a copy online.

"How it enters the company varies, but ultimately, it gets installed too many times," she said.

Some companies know the law and willingly choose to violate it; others aren't aware of copyright laws when it comes to software. Most fall somewhere in between, Blank said.

Most of the alliance's investigations begin with a call from a current or former employee. To encourage that, the BSA is offering rewards up to $50,000 through Dec. 15 for tips that check out.

The alliance has tried the reward program elsewhere, such as Europe, but this is the first time in the U.S.

For companies wanting to check their own software, the BSA offers several resources on its Web site. Blank encourages businesses to take advantage of those before they hear from the alliance.

"The point is not to catch people, but to get them to get legal first," she said.


source: VenturaCountyStar.com ( you have to be signed up to read full story but you can search for novalogic on there site and it will pull it up)

[Hellfighter]

i not ready to give Novalogic, Inc a black eye for this does happen were some of the employee share with each other software and others thing to get the job done.

this is general news item and they was not the only one had their hands in the bucket! some other all so got fine for having hardware unlicense and unlicense software use,

Other businesses fined included electronic trading services company FutureTrade Technology, marketing company Launchpad Communications, Mountain High Resort and money transfer company RIA Financial.

"NovaLogic Inc. is committed to full compliance

at lease all of them have a chance to move in the right direction.

Main site: www.venturacountystar.com
News source: http://www1.venturacountystar.com/vc...298595,00.html

it one of them site were you have signup for free to read it, after you sign up click-on the link above.
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to be real about it go to any company system in their builden you maybe shock what people will instill into them. think their IT Should have been on the ball watching out what was bing instill into them Computer system. pay for a lic-fee do cost a lot for each system it instill into to, employee taken a program and pass it to each other. will hope they be smarter.
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don't recall Novalogic, Inc having anything to do with Sony PlayStation at all? so maybe there something more we don't know about or this was a bit over done.
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if one of the other admin or staff like to move this to the main news go for it. i think it belong here in General news area do to it cover other companys beside Novalogic, Inc too.

bottom line we will be paying for it in the end, higher retail price on the next game come out. they add that into over head cost.

[Steve]

lol , oops

[Steve]

Originally posted by Chief ADFP ™

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don't recall Novalogic, Inc having anything to do with Sony PlayStation at all? so maybe there something more we don't know about or this was a bit over done.
===========================================[/B]

http://www.novalogic.com/games.asp?GameKey=DFBHDP

[Scott]

I know a few companies using pirated software simply cause they cannot afford it, $50,000 reward + 3 companies $150,000?!?! To bad I like them..

[Dr. Bullet]

Originally posted by Panther
I know a few companies using pirated software simply cause they cannot afford it, $50,000 reward + 3 companies $150,000?!?! To bad I like them..

Like or not like, that's school plus some right there *insert extremely evil smiley*

[DevilDog#1]

Bet MB is getting a kick out of this one. You know Macus Beer, previous NL PR God.

[Lakie]

I know a few companies using pirated software simply cause they cannot afford it, $50,000 reward + 3 companies $150,000?!?! To bad I like them..

careful, with alot of these rewards the fine print says that the information must lead to the conviction of t he company, but they usually settle before it even gets to a court which can mean no money for you...

[Hellfighter]

Originally posted by Steve
http://www.novalogic.com/games.asp?GameKey=DFBHDP

thanks for the update i known about the Xbox version but sony PS2 did not know.

NovaLogic "DELTA FORCE - BLACK HAWK DOWN FOR XBOX® VIDEO GAME SYSTEM FROM MICROSOFT AND PLAYSTATION®2 HAVE GONE GOLD!" July 12, 2005

[Chrispy]

Game Hands

Well XBOX and PS2 have got their hands on the Novalogic games. More in the future.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --Software violation

[BADDOG]

Very interesting indeed.

Regards

[Hellfighter]

even little kids need to learn some times to get them in the right track.

[Chrispy]

Software Violations

I reckon that companies should let you make several copies of the software on a blank disc for backup. They have blank discs for sale like Sony and SKC and they are for copying stuff on them. But it is prohibited though. You are practically only allowed to burn your work and stuff on the CD.

Chris_OJB_DF645 --Crazy law

[Hellfighter]

it like you buy 1-Cdrom game instill it for one Computer system only, not all of them in the builden.

one can buy a license and pay a fee to instill the software into many computer system, sample Windows Xp Pro you can pay to have it instill 1-5 computers system. if you go over that limit you have to renew the license to cover more system.

most software MFG only limit to one system, like Novaligic, Inc do with its games. but if your a IT-tech and you working on many Companys system they this be for you pay a fee to instill a software into many system.

novalogic, inc had some system that were not cover by the license fee and one hand share the software unlicense into other computer system at the work place....

hope they really learn from this.