PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
The Business Software Alliance, continuing its crusade against unlicensed software, has announced is biggest settlement of the year so far.
The six-figure sum settlement has been agreed with a northern-based travel company after it was found to be using unlicensed versions of SQL Server, Visio, Project, Office and Windows Server.
In addition to the settlement, the company has agreed to buy legitimate versions of the software, resulting in further costs of £100,000.
A recyclable packaging development company and an online marketing group have also settled out of court, while a Durham-based debt recovery agency now faces court action after using unlicensed versions of Microsoft and Adobe software on around 100 PCs.
“We hope these cases serve as an example to businesses that BSA will continue to reinforce the importance of managing their software,” said the vice chairman of the BSA’s country committee, Najeeb Khan.
“The IT industry takes the protection of intellectual property rights very seriously and companies that continue to neglect this area of their business need to be reminded that unlicensed software is not a viable option.”
It is estimated that 26 per cent of software in the UK is unlicensed and illegal, according to researcher IDC.
