The Borland International Inc user group in the former Soviet Union has established what it claims is the first genuine software bank in Russia. Following a contest launched at the 1991 user group conference, 300 products have been collected, of which the user group estimates about 40 have serious commercial value. The reasoning behind the project is that in recognising that a product is shareware, users register their respect for the rights of the program’s authorship – an important step in a country where piracy is such a widespread problem. All users of the bank undertake to pay the author if they decide to use the product commercially. The bank now includes database management systems, spreadsheets, MS Windows tools, anti-virus programs, training programs, utilities, and computer games. The result of the competition will be made know in June. The winner gets the chance to visit Borland headquarters in Scotts Valley, California.
