<body, law> (FAST) A non-profitmaking organisation, formed in 1984 by the software industry with the aim of eradicating software theft within the UK. Prosecuting on average one organisation every ten days, FAST gives a member organisation, which has signed a Code of Ethics and is committed to the carrying out of a regular software audit, a period of grace before bringing action if there is evidence of irregularities by the member organisation.
In addition to prosecuting organisations and individuals for software theft, FAST set up a campaign of public education and awareness to ensure that users of commercial software understand the effects of software theft - primarily the legal penalties for copyright breach and the increased risk of virus infection through the uncontrolled spread of software. It is estimated that European software houses alone lose $6 billion per year through the unlawful copying and distribution of software, with much of this loss being through business users rather than "basement hackers". One Italian pirating operation employed over 100 staff and had a turnover of $10m.
However, FAST is limited to the UK and in 1995 proposed to merge with the Business Software Alliance created by Microsoft and which has a world-wide influence. However, the talks fell through and in 1996, Novell and Adobe defected to BSA.
Home.
Telephone: +44 (1753) 527 999.
(27 Sep 1996)