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Computing (FOLDOC) dictionary
Federation Against Software Theft Limited
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body, legal (FAST) A non-profitmaking organisation, formed
in 1984 by the software industry with the aim of eradicating
software theft in 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.
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 AdobeSystems, Inc. defected to BSA.