A survey conducted for the BSA by research firm IDC found that
despite industry and BSA efforts to curb business piracy, the
levels of infringement were stable.
“The UK remains in a situation where almost one out of every
three software installations is illegal,” said Sarah Coombes,
director of legal affairs for the BSA in Europe. “Despite attempts
to educate businesses, and increased efforts to enforce the
licensing laws by the government and the industry, it is clear that
more must be done.”
“While it’s obvious that non-payment of taxes or disregarding
health and safety legislation can put businesses in jeopardy,
software piracy is frequently ignored,” said Julie Strawson, the
vice chair of the BSA’s UK Member Committee. “Yet aside from the
damage done to the economy, using illegal software can increase
security risks such as viruses and render companies ineligible for
technical support or product upgrades. Those companies caught using
illegal software risk also serious damage to their
reputations.”
In Europe the piracy rate as measured by the BSA has dropped by
one per cent, to 34%.
The BSA believes that a consultation paper produced by the
Department for Constitutional Affairs on the law of damages backs
its claim that financial penalties for copyright infringement
should be increased as a deterrent to infringers.
“Following on from The Gowers Review earlier this year, the
consultation is a welcome step in the government’s re-examination
of how intellectual property theft should be tackled," said
Coombes. "Improving the processes by which the software industry
can protect its IP rights and ensuring penalties are high enough to
act as a deterrent is something that requires urgent attention if
the government is serious about the UK’s success as a knowledge
economy."
