Business Software Alliance

The Software Alliance, also known as BSA, is a trade group established by Microsoft Corporation in 1988 and representing a number of the world's largest software makers and is a member of the International Intellectual Property Alliance. Its principal activity is trying to stop copyright infringement of software produced by its members. Founded as the "Business Software Alliance" it dropped the "Business" in October 2012, and styles itself "BSA | The Software Alliance".

It is funded through membership dues based on member company's software revenues, and through settlements from companies it successfully brings action against. Many Microsoft EULAs include a clause requiring users to agree to audits by software companies.

In 2013 Victoria Espinel resigned from the office of the United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) of the Office of Management and Budget and joined the staff of the BSA as its president.

"Play It Cyber Safe" campaign features an anti-piracy ferret for a mascot. Objectives of the campaign include:

Among the more provocative approaches BSA has taken is the Bust Your Boss! campaign that has appeared on billboards, printed publications and on the Internet with the following suggestion: "Is your current or former employer using pirated software in their office? Hit 'em where it really hurts - report their illegal software use today."

BSA | The Software Alliance has put forward submissions to the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (Australia) in their Review of the Innovation Patent System.

Membership includes the following:

Members no longer listed as members as of May 2014^[update]:

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