Adobe Systems Inc. has announced a program to curb the use of pirated Adobe software and help nonprofit groups at the same time.

The Adobe Robin Hood program will donate software to schools and charity groups through Gifts-in-Kind -- an organization that connects charities with for-profit companies -- for every valid tip received about illegal use of the company's products which also leads to the purchase of Adobe software.

To help in this anti-piracy effort, Adobe is joining forces with the Business Software Alliance, a nonprofit that battles such-illegal software use, and the nonprofit Software Publisher's Association. The trio will "investigate and litigate end-user and reseller companies," the Adobe press release reports.

BSA estimates that there were more than 100,000 less American jobs in 1998 due to software theft. That includes $4.5 billion in lost wages and $991 million in lost tax revenue.

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