Software and Information Industry Association
A United States trade association representing software, information, education technology, media, and related technology businesses.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Software and Information Industry Association, commonly known as SIIA, is a United States trade association serving companies involved in software, digital information, business information, education technology, specialized publishing, financial information, and software-enabled services. It traces its origins to the Software Publishers Association, established in 1984, which represented software publishers during the rapid expansion of personal computing. The association combined industry representation with lobbying, market research, intellectual-property protection, public-policy advocacy, professional networking, and awards programs. The original Software Publishers Association became a prominent voice for commercial software companies. Its activities included research on the software market, engagement with lawmakers and regulators, and campaigns against unauthorized copying and copyright infringement. By 1995, the association reportedly had more than 1,100 member companies and was regarded as one of the influential computer-industry trade groups of its period. Its membership included major software publishers, including Microsoft, which joined in 1986. One of the SPA's best-known public initiatives was the 1992 "Don't Copy That Floppy" campaign. Produced with education and copyright-protection organizations, the campaign used a music-video format to explain software copyright and discourage unauthorized duplication. The video was distributed to schools on VHS and later gained a second life online as an internet meme. Its cultural visibility made it one of the most recognizable anti-software-piracy campaigns of the early personal-computer era. On January 1, 1999, the Software Publishers Association merged with the Information Industry Association. The combined organization adopted the name Software and Information Industry Association, reflecting a broader remit beyond packaged software. Ken Wasch, who had founded the SPA, led the merged organization, which initially operated from the SPA's existing offices. The merger brought together software, information, publishing, and related technology interests and supported the development of specialized divisions covering public policy, intellectual-property protection, business information, education technology, financial information, specialized information publishing, and software and services. SIIA has also participated in significant technology and copyright-policy debates. Its public-policy work has included amicus briefs and advocacy concerning copyright enforcement and the technology industry's legal environment. In Allen v. Cooper, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 2020, SIIA argued that Congress had validly authorized copyright damages claims against states; the Court rejected that position and held the Copyright Remedy Clarification Act unconstitutional under the relevant sovereign-immunity analysis. The association has historically operated awards and recognition programs for software and information businesses. The Excellence in Software Awards began in 1986 under the SPA and were later renamed the CODiE Awards. The program recognized achievements across software, digital content, education technology, business technology, and information services, with past recipients including companies such as Adobe, BrainPOP, Google, McGraw Hill Education, Red Hat, Salesforce, and others. In 2025, the CODiE Awards were sold to CODiEAwards.com. SIIA-related organizations have also supported the Jesse H. Neal Awards, an established program recognizing editorial excellence in business-to-business media. Today, SIIA's identity is primarily that of an industry association rather than a consumer-facing product brand. Its role is to convene companies, represent member interests in public policy, protect intellectual property, share market and regulatory knowledge, and promote achievement across software and information sectors. The organization does not itself manufacture a standard line of commercial software products; its principal offerings are membership programs, advocacy, research, professional communities, industry events, intellectual-property services, and recognition programs.
History
The organization began in 1984 as the Software Publishers Association, a trade group created to represent commercial software publishers during the growth of personal computers and packaged software. Its original responsibilities combined industry lobbying, research, professional representation, and efforts to protect software copyrights. The association became an important collective voice for publishers dealing with unauthorized copying, emerging software distribution channels, and government policy affecting the technology sector. The SPA expanded its membership and influence during the 1980s and 1990s. Microsoft joined in 1986, and the association developed relationships with a large group of software companies. By 1995, it reportedly represented more than 1,100 companies. Its anti-piracy work included the 1992 Don't Copy That Floppy campaign, a video produced with education and copyright-protection partners. The campaign was distributed to schools on VHS and later became widely circulated online, where it acquired an additional life as a piece of internet culture. The SPA also operated an annual conference for software companies. The event was later renamed InfoSoft Essentials in 1999. Its awards program began in 1986 as the Excellence in Software Awards, an event designed to recognize achievement in software and digital products. The awards were subsequently renamed the CODiE Awards and continued under the SPA's successor organization. A major structural change occurred on January 1, 1999, when the Software Publishers Association merged with the Information Industry Association. The resulting organization adopted the name Software and Information Industry Association. The merger broadened the association's scope from software publishing to a wider information economy that included business information, specialized publishing, financial information, education technology, and software services. Ken Wasch, the SPA's founder, led the combined organization, which initially retained the SPA's offices. SIIA organized its work through sector and policy divisions. These included public policy, intellectual-property protection, business information through Connectiv, education technology through ETIN, financial and information services through FISD, specialized information publishers through SIPA, and software and services through SSD. The structure allowed the association to address both shared industry issues and the distinct commercial and regulatory concerns of different information businesses. The association's policy role became particularly visible in litigation involving major technology companies and copyright law. SIIA supported positions concerning copyright enforcement and software protection, while also representing the interests of information and software businesses in federal policy debates. Microsoft separated from SIIA in 2000 after the organization sided against Microsoft in the federal antitrust case United States v. Microsoft Corp.; contemporary reporting characterized Microsoft as the association's largest member before its departure. In 2020, SIIA participated in Allen v. Cooper by filing a brief that supported the constitutionality of federal legislation intended to permit copyright claims against states. The Supreme Court rejected that argument and ruled that the Copyright Remedy Clarification Act exceeded Congress's authority under the applicable sovereign-immunity doctrine. The case illustrated the association's continuing engagement in high-level copyright and technology law. SIIA's awards activities remained an important part of its public profile. The CODiE Awards recognized software, digital content, education technology, business technology, and information products across numerous categories. Past winners included organizations in education, enterprise software, publishing, analytics, and cloud services. The association also had links to the Jesse H. Neal Awards, which recognize editorial excellence in business-to-business media and were named after Jesse H. Neal, an early leader associated with the information-publishing community. In 2025, ownership of the CODiE Awards was transferred to CODiEAwards.com. SIIA is best understood as a membership and advocacy institution rather than a conventional product brand. Its activities center on representation, policy, intellectual-property protection, research, professional networks, events, and awards. Its historical development mirrors the widening of the technology economy from packaged software into digital information, online publishing, education technology, financial information, and software-enabled services.
- 2025
CODiE Awards transferred to CODiEAwards.com
[1]The long-running awards program was sold to CODiEAwards.com after years of presentation by SIIA and its predecessor.
- 2020
SIIA participates in Allen v. Cooper
[1]The Supreme Court rejected SIIA's position on the constitutionality of the Copyright Remedy Clarification Act.
- 2000
Microsoft leaves SIIA
[1]Microsoft split with SIIA after the association took a position against the company in its federal antitrust litigation.
- 1999
SIIA created through merger
[1]The Software Publishers Association merged with the Information Industry Association on January 1, creating SIIA.
- 1999
SPA conference renamed InfoSoft Essentials
[1]The former SPA Annual Conference received a new name following the organizational transition.
- 1995
SPA membership exceeds 1,100 companies
[1]The association was reported to have more than 1,100 software-company members and substantial influence in technology policy.
- 1992
Don't Copy That Floppy campaign
[1]The SPA released a school-distributed anti-piracy video campaign promoting respect for software copyrights.
- 1991
Ann Stephens founds PC Data
[1]Ann Stephens, previously the SPA's head of research, went on to establish PC Data.
- 1986
Microsoft joins the SPA
[1]Microsoft became a member of the Software Publishers Association during the expansion of the personal-computer software market.
- 1986
Excellence in Software Awards begin
[1]The SPA launched an annual software awards program that was later renamed the CODiE Awards.
Products and positioning
A cross-sector trade association and policy advocate for software, information, digital publishing, education technology, and software-enabled services companies.
Trade association services · 1984
Membership and industry representation
SIIA provides membership-based representation for companies in software, digital information, publishing, education technology, financial information, and software services. The offering centers on collective advocacy, peer networking, sector intelligence, and access to industry communities rather than a consumer software product.
Advocacy
Public Policy
The public-policy function represents member interests before lawmakers, regulators, and courts on issues affecting software and information businesses. Topics have included copyright, intellectual-property enforcement, technology regulation, and competition policy.
Intellectual-property services
IP Protection
SIIA's intellectual-property work supports the protection of software and information content and builds on the anti-piracy activities of the Software Publishers Association. It includes policy advocacy and industry efforts addressing unauthorized copying and infringement.
Industry awards · 1986
CODiE Awards
The CODiE Awards recognize software, digital content, education technology, business technology, and information products. The program began in 1986 as the Excellence in Software Awards and later became one of the association's most visible recognition initiatives.
Media awards · 1955
Jesse H. Neal Awards
The Jesse H. Neal Awards recognize editorial excellence in business-to-business media. Judging emphasizes editorial craftsmanship, service to the field, and journalistic enterprise, culminating in a Grand Neal Award.
Marketing campaigns
- 1992Don't Copy That Floppy
United States
An anti-software-piracy campaign using a music-video format and the character MC Double Def DP to explain copyright and discourage unauthorized copying. The video was filmed at Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C., and distributed to schools on VHS through partnerships involving the SPA and copyright-protection organizations.
Outcome. The campaign became a recognizable artifact of 1990s software anti-piracy messaging and later circulated widely online as an internet meme.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer ownership of the CODiE AwardsM&ABackground
The CODiE Awards had been presented by SIIA and its predecessor organizations for decades.
Action taken
The awards program was sold to CODiEAwards.com.
Aftermath
The program continued under new ownership outside SIIA.
2000
Take a position against Microsoft in federal antitrust litigationStrategyBackground
The association represented software-industry interests during United States v. Microsoft Corp.
Action taken
SIIA sided against Microsoft in the case.
Aftermath
Microsoft split with SIIA and departed after reportedly being the association's largest member.
1999
Merge with the Information Industry AssociationM&ABackground
The Software Publishers Association sought to combine its software-publisher base with the related information-industry organization.
Action taken
The organizations merged on January 1, 1999, and adopted the Software and Information Industry Association name.
Aftermath
The combined association broadened its coverage to business information, publishing, education technology, financial information, and software services.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
McGraw Hill wins two 2021 CODiE Awards[3]
Reported:
McGraw Hill won two 2021 CODiE Awards for Connect Virtual Labs and Connect for Anatomy & Physiology. The source says SIIA announced the awards the previous week but gives no calendar date for the wins.
Sources3 sources
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