Online Automotive Resource Pays $400,000 to Settle Claims of Unlicensed Software Use

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the voice of the world's commercial software industry, today announced a settlement with AutoTrader.com, the leading automotive marketplace and consumer information website headquartered in Atlanta, GA.  AutoTrader.com paid $400,000 to BSA to settle claims that it had unlicensed copies of Adobe, Autodesk, Corel and Quest software installed on its computers.  As part of the settlement agreement, the company agreed to delete all unlicensed copies of software from its computers, acquire any licenses necessary to become compliant and commit to implementing stronger software asset management (SAM) practices.  BSA was alerted to the unlicensed software use by a confidential report made on its website www.nopiracy.org.

"AutoTrader.com has grown from 10 employees at our founding 12 years ago to more than 2,000 today," said Bob Hadley of AutoTrader.com. "During that time we have focused on managing the explosive growth of the company and serving the tens of thousands of customers – auto dealers, manufacturers and private sellers – who advertise vehicles for sale on AutoTrader.com and the millions of shoppers searching for cars on our site. We believe our employees have the utmost integrity when it comes to these matters and this audit brought to light the importance of having procedures in place to make sure all software purchases and licenses can be accounted for in accordance with Business Software Alliance policies."

"It is important businesses understand the risks associated with using unauthorized software on any computer," said Jodie Kelley, BSA's vice president of anti-piracy and general counsel. "Not only do organizations face possible legal trouble for employing pirated software, there are also tremendous security and economic consequences involved."

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About BSA

The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world.  BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace.  Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world.  BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce.  BSA members include Adobe, Altium, Apple, Autodesk, Aveva, Bentley Systems, Corel, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation, Microsoft, Minitab, Progress Software, Quark, Quest Software, Rosetta Stone, Siemens, Sybase, Symantec, and The MathWorks.

SOURCE Business Software Alliance