Piracy Is on the Rise
The number of web sites offering pirated software has more than doubled in the last year and will likely continue to climb, according to a study released by Websense, a company specializing in Internet usage software.
The study showed there are more than 5,400 sites containing pirated software—known as “warez” in the Internet underground—representing more than 800,000 Web pages.
Warez typically is traded among young Internet users looking for free copies of hot software, most often games and other expensive programs. But recent anecdotal evidence suggests that businesses increasingly are using pirated software, many times unknowingly. In the last nine years, the Business Software Association has pulled in more than $60 million in fines from businesses using pirated software.
Show Security to Be Tight
Next weeks comdex show—which in the best of years is barely contained chaos—will be even more chaotic with new security measures being put in place in response to the Sept. 11 attacks.
Most of the 130,000-or-so visitors to the tech fest in Las Vegas will not be able to bring computer bags onto the show floor, and cameras will not be permitted during the keynote addresses.
In addition, attendees will have to present photo IDs to pick up their badge holders and will not be allowed to pick them up for anyone else.
They can bring in purses, but those will be searched, leading to what promises to be long lines that rival those in airports.
Also, no bags will be allowed on the exhibit floor.
Media and exhibitors will be able to bring in computer bags, but they will be searched at an entrance separate from the attendees.
Adobe Changes Projections
Citing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Adobe last week downgraded its fourth-quarter projections and cut about 150 jobs. The company now expects revenues of between $275 million and $285 million, with earnings of 20 cents to 22 cents a share.
Before the attacks, Adobe had projected quarterly revenues of $310 million to $320 million and earnings of 27 cents to 28 cents a share.
The 150 jobs represent about 5 percent of the companys work force. Adobe will take a restructuring charge of between $8 million and $10 million in the fourth quarter.