Most BSA Audits begin with a report from a disgruntled employee
or former employee. The Business Software Alliance maintains
telephone hotlines and a web site to encourage disgruntled
employees and vendors to make anonymous reports against companies
of all sizes. The BSA dedicates a substantial portion of its
revenue marketing on radio stations and the internet to these
"rats," promising them confidentiality and the ability to
make an anonymous complaint.
Once a report is received, the Business Software Alliance makes
a decision about whether to request a self-audit or to immediately
file suit. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Business
Software Alliance pursues the self-audit approach. Acting either
through an internal enforcement attorney or an outside law firm,
the BSA will send a letter to the target company requesting a
self-audit. The request for an audit is a critical stage in the
process, and the time when an experienced attorney can help
