BSA lauds Trading Standards piracy victory

The BSA has thrown its support behind Wirral Tradiing Standards in bringing local IT firms to justice

Anti-piracy body the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has applauded Wirral Trading Standards in bringing two businesses dealing in unlicensed software to justice.

The Wirral-based firms, Copyrite and Katech, are run by members of the same family and were caught out by Trading Standards selling PCs packaged with unauthorised versions of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system.

Copyrite’s owner Anthony Boardman received an eight-week sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.

He was also ordered to pay the local authority £2,126 and investigation costs totalling £2,000 to Microsoft.

In addition to the Windows Vista offence, Boardman was also found in possession of four PCs containing unauthorised versions of Windows XP and a DVD/CD duplicating tower.

Kathleen Boardman and Lauren Blenner Hassett, directors at Katech, were each sentenced to 150-hours' community service, with Boardman receiving an additional six-month supervision order.

Julian Swan, director of compliance marketing EMEA at the BSA, said: “We fully support the actions of Trading Standards in this case. It sends a very clear message that the consequences of software piracy can be severe and that serious offenders will be pursued all the way to the courts.”

Michala Wardell, anti-piracy manager at Microsoft, said: “These traders were not only robbing the creators of intellectual property of the rewards for their efforts, but also duping consumers and damaging the local economy.”