| Software piracy fight makes enemies
An analysis by The Associated Press reveals that targeting small businesses is a lucrative strategy for the Business Software Alliance, the main global copyright-enforcement watchdog for such companies as Microsoft, Adobe Systems and Symantec. Of the $13-million that the BSA reaped in software violation settlements with North American companies last year, almost 90 percent came from small businesses, the AP found. The BSA is well within its rights to wring expensive punishments aimed at stopping the wilful, blatant software copying that undoubtedly happens in many businesses. And its leaders say they concentrate on small businesses because that's where illegitimate use of software is rampant. But technology managers and software consultants say the picture has more shades of grey than the BSA acknowledges.
Editorial & Opinion
Bouquet: To Kimberly Gallagher, who donated small, pet-sized oxygen masks to the Fort Erie Fire Department recently. The Crystal Beach resident began a drive to provide the masks to the town's volunteer fire companies to show her appreciation to firefighters, who saved her two Persian cats during a blaze that damaged her apartment building in June. Gallagher's thoughtfulness may just mean the difference between life and death for some other family's pet. Now, just think how much that would mean to a family that has already lost many, or all, of their worldly possessions. Brick: To the federal Conservative government, which has yet to commit to providing more funding to offset costs borne by the Niagara Regional Police for doing a job that falls under Ottawa's jurisdiction. NRP officials have complained for years that Niagara property-tax ratepayers are footing an unfairly large bill for local border security work.
Strange brew: Beer regulations unenforceable, some city commissioners say
MT. PLEASANT — City officials questioned at a recent meeting how much distance should be required between an establishment selling beer and schools, churches and municipal buildings and whether the city's current ordinance was enforceable.Currently, any establishment owner applying for a permit to sell beer within the city must be located at least 500 feet away from City Hall, churches and schools.The problem is some buildings with beer permits may have been given the legal right to sell the alcohol without an accurate measurement, Mayor Richard Hendrix said at Tuesday's regular meeting. .
Small business summit set Dec. 5 at Ala Moana Hotel
A "Small Business Summit" to assist business owners on loan programs and other issues that affect businesses will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 5 at the Ala Moana Hotel. The free event is sponsored by Meridian Financial Network and will feature experts on small business. Speakers will include Andrew Poepoe, district director of the Small Business Administration in Hawai'i; Jim Tollefson, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i; Keith Ogata, director of SCORE Hawaii; and J.P. Park, vice president of Nara Bank. For reservations, call 942-2224, ext. 102, or e-mail neysa@mortgage2u.com. .
|
