BSA hails UK anti-piracy pushes

Anti-piracy body claims nearly 900 firms have taken part in its regional campaigns to date

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) claims that nearly 900 companies have participated in its regional anti-piracy campaigns over the past year.

Since last September the anti-piracy body has been inviting businesses from across the Midlands and the North of England to use its web site to check they have the right number and type of software licences.

The initiative started in Birmingham, before moving to the west Midlands, the North West and the North East of England in the months that followed.

Up to the end of July, the BSA claims up to 875 businesses had participated.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, Julian Swan, director of compliance marketing at the BSA, said it has been pleased with the response it has had.

"Most of the feedback we have received has been very positive, as it is an area these companies know they need to address, but they might not know how to," said Swan.

"Some companies choose not to participate, but - in instances where we have good grounds to believe they might be under-licensed, for example - we will encourage them further so they can get compliant."

The campaigns have uncovered firms that are under-licensed, mis-licensed and using counterfeit software. These scenarios can be easily rectified, stressed Swan, but should not be done with haste.

"There has been some degree of panic buying [in response to the results] and this has led to people buying software off the internet that turns out to be counterfeit and they then end up having to pay out again to correct the mistake."

He said the BSA also has evidence to suggest its work is having a positive impact on companies that are not formally involved with its regional campaigns.

"We have noticed that companies in the same postcode or building as those that have got involved are taking action to make sure their licensing is up to date as well," he said.

"We call these ‘fagbreak purchases' because they often come about through word of mouth between businesses."

Looking ahead, he said the BSA has not yet decided on where to focus its next campaign, but work will start on it once the summer ends.

"These are ongoing campaigns and good news for the channel because a lot of the people we uncover as having licensing problems contact resellers for help," he added.