In the meantime, the software alliance's sleuths have plenty to keep them busy.

The responsiveness varies, but service providers on good terms with the software alliance often comply "within a few hours," the investigator said.

"I don't think anything is off the table," said Robert M. Kruger, a vice president of the software alliance.

Microsoft declined to disclose its internal estimate of piracy losses, but the software alliance says that if piracy were eradicated, industry revenue would double.

The Software Alliance's European Counsel, Brad Smith, said 'Our policy is that we don't prosecute people who aren't adults - it's as simple as that.'

Mr. Kruger at the software alliance said he knew that the approach would work when, new to the job, he picked up the phone one day to hear: "I'm a disgruntled employee.

The Software Alliance estimates that nearly 95 percent of all the software used in China is pirated and that the resulting losses to American companies totaled more than $300 million last year.

The instructor, who insisted on anonymity because he said his actions could jeopardize his current job, was one of about 40,000 people who have called the software alliance since the line was set up four years ago.

UNICE, the software alliance and the International Chamber of Commerce all urge the commission to pursue two less ambitious courses of action being pushed by the European Patent Office.

The Software Alliance, also known as BSA, is a trade group established in 1988 and representing a number of the world's largest software makers and is a member of the International Intellectual Property Alliance.

Indeed, even traditionally strong copyright supporters like the Business Software Alliance have been having second thoughts about the legislation.

The industry officials were in Washington as part of an annual lobbying trip organized by the Business Software Alliance.

Moreover, even the Business Software Alliance has characterized Canada as a "low piracy country."

The Business Software Alliance, a Washington trade group, estimates that the industry lost $15.2 billion worldwide to piracy last year.

The Business Software Alliance reports that an estimated $525 million worth of software was copied illegally in 1995.

The Business Software Alliance estimated global losses from all software piracy at just over $13 billion in 2002.

The Business Software Alliance, the powerful consortium of software manufacturers, might well agree with that sentiment.

Inside a nondescript office building here, investigators for the Business Software Alliance are working to track down software pirates around the world.

Business Software Alliance head Robert Holleyman, however, seemed more confident that the economic crisis would help create political will for reform.

The settlement was reached with a watchdog group called the Business Software Alliance, which was tipped off by a whistle-blower.

For years, Business Software Alliance reports on software piracy assumed that each illicit copy was a lost sale.

The Business Software Alliance has started a letter and radio ad campaign alerting companies they may not comply with their software licenses.

The Business Software Alliance estimates that more than 90 percent of the software in China is unlicensed.

In June 2000 the company paid a large fine to the Business Software Alliance for using a quantity of unlicensed software.

The Czech arm of the Business Software Alliance is prosecuting its first case under the country's software piracy laws.

BSA, the Business Software Alliance, protects the intellectual property of software developers.

Business Software Alliance (Philippines)

The Business Software Alliance's "Define The Line" campaign.

Internet trading pales by comparison, said Bob Kruger, vice president for enforcement at the Business Software Alliance.

For more information contact the U.S. Department of Justice or the Business Software alliance, with content on online piracy issues.

According to a study by the Business Software Alliance, the commercial value of pirated software in China exceeded $7.7 billion in 2010.

"I think that moving ahead with industry dialogue is positive," Robert W. Holleyman 2d, president of the Business Software Alliance, said yesterday.

The Business Software Alliance rolled into New York last week with its anti-piracy road show, announcing a $150,000 settlement with a local architectural firm.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is the trade organisation representing the global commercial software industry.

In a 2010 report, Business Software Alliance said that despite the financial crisis the level of illegal software use fell across the world, including in Russia.