Software and Information Industry Association

According to its mission statement, "the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is one of the U.S. trade association for the software and digital content industry." The SIIA hosts webcasts and performs lobbying with United States policy makers as well as conducting surveys and research and many conferences.

The SIIA's activities pertain to government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to companies that produce and deliver software and content products and services.

History

The "Software Publishers Association (SPA)" was founded in 1984 by Ken Wasch. The original purpose was to provide its two dozen software publisher members representation with policy makers. The membership later grew to a thousand small companies, and in 1999 it was merged with the "Information Industry Association (IIA)" to form the "Software & Information Industry Association".

Organization

The SIIA consists of six divisions. Public Policy, Anti-piracy, Software, Content, Education, and Financial Information Services. In addition, the SIIA promotes industry products and services through the annual Codie awards.

Anti-Piracy Division

The SIIA's Anti-Piracy Division conducts an industry-wide campaign to fight software and content copyright infringement. The campaign combines enforcement with education, and encourages member firms to develop methods of prevention. The Anti-Piracy division is well known for its 1992 advertising campaign Don't Copy That Floppy.

Content Division

The Content Division of the SIIA provides a forum for companies that are in the business of publishing and distributing online content, or whose products facilitate distribution of information products. The division works with emerging issues and produces deliverables of special interest to members of the division.

Financial Information Services Division

The Financial Information Services Division (FISD) of the SIIA provides a forum for exchanges, market data vendors, specialist data providers, brokerage firms and banks on distribution, management, administration and use of market data. The FISD was founded in 1985 and is governed by a 27-member Executive Committee of exchanges, vendors and market data user firms.

oftware Division

The Software Division provides a forum for companies developing applications, services, infrastructure and tools. Activities focus on several topics annually and now include Software as a Service, open source software development and mobile applications. The division has 4 active groups including Channels, Legal, Marketing and ISVs. The groups are chaired by industry executives including Nick Blozan, Axel Schultze, Jan Sysmans and Ken Boasso

Education Division

SIIA’s Education Division provides leadership, advocacy and critical marketing information to assist the success of education technology and content providers. The Division focuses on six key issues: Business & Finance; Ed Tech Effectiveness; Government Programs & Funding; Sales & Marketing; Technical/Development issues and Vision K-20.

Awards

The CODiE awards are SIIA's yearly peer-recognition award for outstanding code and content products, first issued in 1986.

ee also

*Business Software Alliance
*Association for Computing Machinery

References

* [http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb0125-1.htm Info Today: The SPA-IIA Merger is Now Official]
* [http://software.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=03/10/27/2235208&tid=132&tid=74&tid=27&tid=31 NewsForge: Help determine a Codie Award winner]
* [http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/ArticleReader.aspx?ArticleID=18376 EContent: SIIA Takes an Initiative in Content Piracy Battle]

External links

* [http://www.siia.net SIIA homepage]
* [http://www.fisd.net/ FISD homepage]