SchlumbergerSema Joins Forces with Sospita to Provide Smart Card-based Licenses to Protect Software Against Piracy

"Digital piracy - the online theft of creative property - poses one of the single greatest threats to the success of the information economy. It undermines the confidence that creators and consumers place in their commercial interactions over networks," states a recent study from the Business Software Alliance*. The research states further "In the United States, 25 percent of all business software is unlicensed. It is estimated (sic) that in 2001 the industry lost more than $1.8 billion in revenue in the United States alone due to software theft."

Unique in this market, the combined solution will employ the Sospita security hardware license protection solution along with the new technology SchlumbergerSema e-gate™ token to decrypt parts of the hard disk, making the task of hacking the software extremely difficult.

"The combination of the SchlumbergerSema smart card expertise with Sospita licensing solutions presents a critical, cost-saving answer to an issue that has traditionally been difficult to manage," said Susan Silbo, CEO of Sospita. "In addition, this alliance allows Sospita to leverage a worldwide marketplace and offer support to our global customers at a local level."

Although initially aimed at the Software Industry, this technology is equally at home protecting online media such as music or video. The ability to enforce flexible licensing linked with the capability to securely delete and forward content is a major advantage in any protection scheme.

"Sospita technology coupled with our latest, e-gate USB-enabled smart card will provide the software industry with a necessary solution to its piracy problem," stated Paul Beverly, vice president of SchlumbergerSema smart cards in NAM. "This will confirm the SchlumbergerSema position as a global leader in security solutions."

SchlumbergerSema is the leading provider of secure, convenient smart card-based solutions for corporations, financial institutions, government and wireless operators. SchlumbergerSema is unique in providing a full suite of cards, terminals, software, applications, as well as worldwide service deployment capabilities, including consulting, system integration and managed services. More information about the solution offered can be seen in a white paper from www.smartcards.net.

About SchlumbergerSema

SchlumbergerSema is one of two business segments of Schlumberger Limited, a global technology services company. With more than 30,000 employees serving customers in 65 countries, SchlumbergerSema aggregates IT consulting, systems integration, managed services and related products to the oil and gas, telecommunications, energy and utilities, finance, transport and public sector markets. Leveraging the Schlumberger DeXa* Suite of Services, it also provides IP network connectivity, information security solutions, distributed computing support services and data center hosting services. In 2001, Schlumberger revenues were $13.7 billion. For more information online, visit www.slb.com.

About Sospita

Sospita is a core security technology company, founded in Norway in 1995. Sospita offers world leading software license protection technology with REAL security. In 2001, Sospita introduced the only software license protection system that decrypts and executes encrypted code on an external tamper-proof device.

Sospita's QX operating system offers a platform for secure execution of multiple smart card/token applications. QX includes a truly high performance 32 bit Virtual Machine, license controlled applet execution, inter-applet firewall protection, on-card crypto support and multiple compilers for both C and VB programming languages.

Thirty-seven percent of software is pirated on average worldwide each year (Source SIIA/BSA). In China the piracy rate is over 90%. The software protection market in China is currently doubling annually and growth rates are high in Asia and other emerging countries where piracy is a serious problem.

Sospita has achieved international patents for its core technology, including a US patent awarded in 2001. Sospita's technology is distributed efficiently through OEM agreements with international companies who have established distribution and marketing networks. Sospita's patented core technology is currently being used by developers of graphic, aviation and risk assessment software, and can be used by developers for any new, or existing high-end software. More information can be found online at www.sospita.com.

*The BSA is the voice of the world's software and Internet industry before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Compaq, Dell, Entrust, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, Novell, Sybase, Symantec and UGS. Download the white paper for more information.