BSA Software Audit Updates 2019 - The Fee Structure!
Introduction
Our California based software audit defense law firm has helped hundreds of companies in various software audits, licensing compliance, and piracy allegations over the years. We are a leader in the field and our host of popular youtube videos bears this out. This blog is a WARNING to be careful what law firm you hire, and what type of FEE STRUCTURE your firm is willing to undertake to engage legal representation. There is NOT a one size fits all and you have affordable options. Our firm is a leader because we offer LOW FLAT RATE (predictable) legal fees. Many other firms are not setup to offer this and this shifts the burden to you and your CFO many times as to whether you want to pay for HOURLY ATTORNEYS (one or more) who may be working on your case.
Software Technology Law Firms
In the niche area of software audit defense, with companies such as the Business Software Alliance ("BSA"), who represents many companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, Autodesk and others), there are only a couple of experience and qualified firms (in my opinion). Our leadership is well-known. But there are other companies out there, perhaps larger firms with 5-50 lawyers who may also be involved in this business. These firms may have large fancy offices, high overhead, and these costs have to be passed on to someone (i.e. YOUR COMPANY). I have worked at a firm that would typically have three lawyers working on your case. Do you really need three lawyers handling your BSA audit? These lawyers can all be BILLING their time. At our firm, there is ONE lawyer that handles the cases, ME, Attorney Steve®. I handle the case and I get the job done. Think about if you had 5 lawyers that you have to pay 120k per year. That is 10k per month each. Those lawyers need to bill $50,000 just to break even.
Typically, they may need to bill TRIPLE that to earn a profit (don't forget the firm has overhead, insurance, legal tools, etc.).
So, in a firm like this, when you retain them for a BSA audit, you may find your case moving from one attorney to the other, strategy sessions, discussions, legal research, all kinds of things, and YOUR COMPANY FOOTS THE BILL. We offer low, predictable flat rate fees. You know what you paying to get the job done. You can call and email us all you want without worrying about a .20 billing (typically $60 bucks to the billing firm).
Beware of the BILLABLE HOUR (it is not the only fee structure out there - but in my opinion it is the WORST!). I left a law firm that does that and vowed I would not practice law that way. In rare occasions (ex. litigation), that would be an exception to the rule.
Contact an experienced software licensing defense IP Firm.
We offer LOW, PREDICTABLE, FLAT RATE FEES that won't leave you with a GIANT LEGAL BILL month after month and at the end of your case. We know what it takes to get the job done and we have handled many software audit (copyright infringement) cases over the years. Call us at (877) 276-5084 or email us through our contact form. We have appeared in federal court in over 100 copyright matters. We also have excellent client reviews.
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