(NAPSA)—Most students don’t think twice about downloading illegal software. But, interestingly enough, they do feel strongly about intellectual property protection for software developers. This is just one of the key findings from a recent study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Business Software Alliance (BSA) on unlicensed software use and illegal downloading behavior among university students and academics. Eighty-two percent of students and 100 percent of academics believe that people who develop software deserve to be rewarded for their efforts. However, two-thirds of students still think there are situations where it is okay to swap or download files without paying for them. Because today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals, students’ attitudes about the ethics of illegally downloading software are worth examining from a business perspective. But although the statistics are alarming, the climate is improving. In 2005, 52 percent of students agreed it is okay to swap or share files in the workplace, whereas in 2007, 44 percent of students agreed to this statement. To addressthis issue of software piracy among students, Autodesk, Inc.—a leader in 2D and 3D designsoftware and a founding memberof the BSA—instituted an innovative program designed to give students what they want: free software. “Autodesk understands that students don’t have the resources and moneyto afford new software and applications, so we created an online community—the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community—which gives postsecondary students and teachers access to the tools they need to prepare for careers in architec- ture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial design, gaming and animation,” said Sandy Boulton, director of License Compliance at Autodesk. “Due to the increasing popularity of this community for college students, Autodesk also recently launched a Free student versions of design software are available. similar Web site for middle- and high school students.” This global online community offers free downloadsof the latest student versions of Autodesk design software used by professionals in the design and engineering communities. The awardwinning site includes teaching and learning resources that allow students to hone the design skills they will need in the real world. In less than a year, the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community has grown to more than 100,000 members from more than 87 countries. Innova- tive programs such as the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community can help students avoid the ethical, legal and technical risks—such as computer viruses and spyware—associated with downloading unauthorized copies of software. More important, programs like these can also help shape a future workforce that is more educated about the value of intellectual property as it creates its own innovative designs. To learn more about the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community, as well as other education programs, visit www.autodesk.com/edcommunity or www.autodesk.com/education; and for more information on software license compliance, visit www.autodesk.com/piracy or call (800) NO COPIES.
