Reckoning that Italy is one of the worst countries in Europe for unauthorised copying of software, the US Business Software Association, on behalf of members Lotus Development Corp and Ashton-Tate Corp, has decided to make an example of one of Italy’s biggest companies, Montedison SpA, its Montefibre SpA affiliate, and Elettrocarbonium SpA, by filing of copyright infringement lawsuits against them. According to the Association, evidence of widespread software duplication was confirmed by technical experts in raids on the companies ordered by the Italian courts, and additional inspections are expected to result in additional lawsuits. The inspections are claimed to have shown that over 90% of the inspected software consisted of unauthorised copies. As for Elettrocarbonium, the Association claims it bought single legitimate copies of the inspected products at each of three corporate locations and then reproduced them without permission on multiple personal computers, and that over 80% of the software found at the company consisted of unauthorised copies. Lotus and Ashton-Tate are seeking to confiscate the alleged copies, the machines used to make them, and damages, plus a permanent injunction against the making of future copies. The Association backs up its claim that Italy is a hotbed of software copyright infringement by pointing to figures that suggest that for every 10 personal computers bought in the US, 15 software packages are bought, whereas in Italy, every 10 sales of a personal computer yield just 3.5 software sales. Montedison protested loudly at the charges, saying that it had been expressly authorised to copy software by Lotus Italia – Lotus is disputing the claim and demands written evidence – and says that it is reserving the right to take initiatives and actions in order to protect our honour.
