SIIA Offers Up To $1 Million For Piracy TipsSIIA Offers Up To $1 Million For Piracy Tips

The Software & Information Industry Association is offering some juicy rewards to tipsters who report software piracy, even at their own companies.

The SIIA on Tuesday announced it paid $22,500 in one month for the rewards, which ranged from $500 to $10,000. The rewards for March went to seven individuals.

The SIIA offers up to $1 million to eligible piracy tipsters as part of its Anti-Piracy Rewards Program, which was established in 2003. The group said it pays out $1 million for cases resulting in settlements up to $20 million and $500 for cases that settle for $10,000.

Most tipsters, or sources who give information about corporate piracy, are current or former employees, member companies, vendors, or another person with firsthand knowledge about a company's IT operations, the SIIA said.

If the SIIA gathers information indicating unauthorized use, its lawyers contact the corporation and request an audit. If unauthorized software is found, the SIIA makes several demands. They include requiring the company to license the software, pay a fine equal to three times the cost of the software, and adopt and implement compliance policies.

If the company refuses to conduct an audit, SIIA may sue the company for copyright infringement on behalf of its members.

The group said it receives about 120 to 150 piracy reports each month.

Last year, the SIIA issued 26 rewards to individuals who reported incidents of corporate end-user software piracy. "Corporate software piracy hurts American businesses, damages our economy, and undercuts innovation and creativity," Keith Kupferschmid, SIIA's senior VP of intellectual property policy and enforcement, said in a prepared statement. "People who help track down corporate pirates play an important role in protecting businesses that play by the rules and ensuring the future competitiveness of our software industry."

Kupferschmid said the reward program is just one way that the SIIA shows appreciation for those who help combat software piracy.

The SIIA also recognizes individuals for anti-piracy with leadership awards to those who fight software and content piracy.