BSA swoops on travel agent

Barrhead Travel pays out more than £10,000 after being caught using unlicensed Adobe software

Michala Wardell: Financial penalties could far exceed initial outlay of buying licensed software

A Glasgow-based travel agent has become the latest victim of the Business Software Alliance’s (BSA) anti-piracy crackdown.

Barrhead Travel has paid out more than £10,000 for using unlicensed Adobe software, the BSA announced today. The sum includes settlement fees and the cost of purchasing the software licences it needed to ensure it was legally compliant.

BSA UK Committee chair, Michala Wardell, said the incident should serve as an example to those who have not got their software licensing houses in order.

“Businesses must be aware that enforcement action will be taken against any company found using unlicensed software,” she said.

“The financial penalties could far exceed the initial outlay of buying licensed software, a burden businesses can ill-afford to bear in the current economic climate.”