A Case on Illegal Online Software Sales

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) announced in a press release that its members have won a $210,563 judgment in court against M. Miller, who sold illegal copies of software through an Internet auction site. US District Judge awarded the plaintiff $195,000 in statutory damages and $15,563 for filing costs and attorneys’ fees. The judgment states that M. Miller has been ordered to immediately destroy any and all infringing copies of Adobe, Autodesk and Microsoft software in his possession or control.

According to legal documents filed on behalf of BSA member companies, the defendant admitted he had “downloaded software, copied CDs and sold to outsiders for $8.00 to $12.00”.

Under BSA’s “Know it, Report it, Reward it” programme, the organization offers rewards of up to $1 million for qualifying reports of software piracy received via its hotline or online reporting form.

www. bsa. org/country/News and Events

Role play the cross examination of the plaintiff and defendant

PROGRESS TEST 4 (part 1)

Review Being honest strategy in the situations to follow

- Debrief the project which was not done on time. Be honest identifying the reasons for the setback, still avoid taking all the responsibility

- A colleague of yours tells you about his / her conflict with a person you both know very well. You need to resist your colleague’s attempts to get you involved. Be polite but let her / him know honestly you’d rather stay aside

PROGRESS TEST 4 (part 2)

PART 2. TALKING ECONOMICS

Topic 5. Requesting / inquiring

I. General

Tips to keep in mind

1.When talking to close friends or people you’re on first-name terms with, you may use pseudo-interrogations (Could you pass me the sugar, please?), tag questions or please- form imperatives

2.The expressions will sound more polite, if put in the past

3.Intonation is most important when asking favors of people, so opt for pseudo-interrogation forms

Practicum 5.1

Study the communication strategy of Requesting / Inquiring

Step 1	Identify how difficult, unpleasant or urgent the task is
Step 2	Identify who you are and who you are talking to, if required (optional)
Step 3	Use one of the suitable expressions avoiding direct ways

Practicum 5.2

Study the ways of requesting and inquiring (listed in order of politeness); practice them with a rising tone

Nick, I need …. Do you have one?

Now we have to …

It is time we did …

You haven’t got …, have you?

Give me this file, please.

Could / would you help me

Call them tomorrow, could /will / would you

Will you / won’t you …, please?

I wanted to know when / why / how?

I was wondering / thinking if