An interesting point of this letter is that a hypertext link is apparently considered to be the same as actual content. A link to legal methods of disabling dongles and copy protection schemes is considered to be covered by the SPA's program as 'contributory infringment', despite the fact that the linked information is not considered to be infringment. -------------------------------------- Dear Sir/Madam: I am writing on behalf of the Software Publishers Association (SPA), which is the principal trade group of the PC software industry. Many of our more than 1,200 member companies look to the SPA to help stop the unauthorized duplication of their products. We have received information that unauthorized copies of our members' software are being reproduced and distributed on your server(s) in violation of Federal copyright law. We hope this unauthorized duplication does not reflect official policy for your company. Under the circumstances, however, we would like to suggest an audit of your company as an alternative to litigation. The procedure for the SPA ISP audit program is as follows: 1. You will assist us in identifying the end-user responsible for uploading the unauthorized software; 2. FTP logs of the pirate activity will be made available to SPA; 3. All infringing copies of member software are immediately removed from your server and documentation certifying this effort is provided to SPA; 4. All infringing copies of member software are preserved as evidence and made available to SPA; 5. You agree to implement monitoring procedures to prevent similar acts of copyright infringement and report those procedures to SPA; 6. You sign and return the ISP Code of Conduct within five (5) days; 7. If necessary, SPA executes a release from liability for infringement discovered. As you will note from the enclosed press release and article, the SPA has an active litigation program. We are at this time providing your organization the opportunity to bring itself into compliance with the Federal copyright laws without litigation. I would appreciate your contacting me as soon as possible, and in any event no later than xxxxxxxxxx. I may be reached at this e-mail address or by phone at 202-452-1600 extension 323. Sincerely, Joshua Bauchner Litigation Coordinator enclosures