|
|
|
20 Jul 2009
Comments:3
The Business Software Alliance’s (BSA) London piracy crackdown has netted three more firms. Inca Creative, Matthews & Goodman LLP and Fortune Asset Management have had to cough up a total of almost £100,000 after being caught using unlicensed software.
Following campaigns in Glasgow and Manchester, the BSA recently turned its attention to England’s capital. The London piracy rate is estimated by IDC to stand at 20 per cent, with London businesses installing unlicensed software worth £149m each year.
The BSA said the three cases highlight the financial risk that business in the capital run by using unlicensed software.
Further reading
“Our campaign is designed to help organisations avoid penalties, but London, as one of the world’s biggest centres of commerce, needs to set an example and companies flouting the law will be exposed,” said Alyna Cope, representative for BSA’s UK Country Committee.
Property advisors Matthews & Goodman had to pay a settlement of £17,500 for under-licensing Microsoft software on about 75 PCs and three servers. Design agency Inca and asset management firm Fortune Asset Management were also caught in the act and had to stump up about £15,000 and £18,500, respectively, to get their houses in order.
Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said: “Stamping out software piracy in the city means business can save money and be more productive, while also reducing the risk of computer viruses and security problems.”
Related articles
In this video find out about the fast-growing Chinese vendor's plans for market domination and how the channel is its route of choice
Find out what gifts Acer has in store for partners for 2012 in this exclusive roundup of its recent conference
CRN's premier networking event is back on 17 May at the Ricoh Arena
Date: Thu 17 May 2012
Channel fighters preparing to square up once more on 24 May
Date: Thu 24 May 2012
The proliferation of endpoint devices within the enterprise has highlighted the shortcomings of one of the traditional approaches to data security
This Forrester report compares the costs and benefits of legacy email and productivity software with Google Apps
Dave discovers the unexpected demographical anomalies of online shopping
Mark Needham, founder of distributor Widget, argues that John Browett leaves for Apple with Dixons in better shape than when he arrived
|
|
|
Do you agree?
Gain control to avoid penalties
Recent research shows that there has been a 35 percent increase in activity from software vendors auditing licences. That can cause significant stress even for companies that are household names. One organisation found a need to establish its compliance position left its day-to-day operations paralysed. Compliance audit letters had to be verified, company lawyers had to be informed and then board level executives had to be briefed on the potential financial risk to the company of a hard-line audit and subsequent reconciliation mandate.
To avoid such worries, companies must ensure they have their software licensing and compliance under control. Producing an Effective Licence Position (ELP) will help organisations quickly determine their proof of entitlement for software, mitigate risk and submit correct information to vendors when requested. Going through this process lays the foundations for software compliance.
The FAST Compliance Programme offers a structured and best practice approach, enabling organisations to optimise their software asset management activities, drive their compliance - and so avoid any unexpected penalties!
Posted by FAST Ltd - www.fast-ltd.co.uk | 27 Jul 2009
Gain control to avoid penalties
Recent research shows that there has been a 35 percent increase in activity from software vendors auditing licences. That can cause significant stress even for companies that are household names. One organisation found a need to establish its compliance position left its day-to-day operations paralysed. Compliance audit letters had to be verified, company lawyers had to be informed and then board level executives had to be briefed on the potential financial risk to the company of a hard-line audit and subsequent reconciliation mandate.
To avoid such worries, companies must ensure they have their software licensing and compliance under control. Producing an Effective Licence Position (ELP) will help organisations quickly determine their proof of entitlement for software, mitigate risk and submit correct information to vendors when requested. Going through this process lays the foundations for software compliance.
The FAST Compliance Programme offers a structured and best practice approach, enabling organisations to optimise their software asset management activities, drive their compliance - and so avoid any unexpected penalties!
Posted by FAST Ltd - www.fast-ltd.co.uk | 27 Jul 2009
Better to buy upfront than to be caught
There is a lesson here for organisations, better to take software compliance into your own hands, rather than waiting for the inevitable audit and paying higher fines and penalties (not to mention disruption to your network, negative publicity etc). Software Asset Management allows companies to take control of their own compliance position and avoid any unexpected penalties.
Posted by EasySAM | 21 Jul 2009
Have your say