Manchester receives more reports of piracy than any other
English city outside London, according to the BSA, which represents
firms like Microsoft, Adobe and Symantec. It is already
investigating 11 Manchester-based businesses for licence
violations.
Local businesses are being advised to audit carefully all the
software installed on company-owned PCs, devices and networks to
check that software is fully licensed according to the license
agreements they hold.
According to the BSA, Manchester companies that sign up to the
BSA’s software audit program and ensure they are fully licensed by
30th June will be able to avoid the risk of legal action by the BSA
in respect of any under-licensing prior to that date. At the end of
June, investigations may be opened into Manchester companies that
have failed to rectify any under-licensing – with the BSA acting on
any evidence provided by informants and members when the campaign
ends.
Najeeb Khan, Vice-Chair, BSA UK Member Committee, said: “We urge
Manchester businesses to come forward and ensure that their
software licensing is up to scratch, checking all software - from
office productivity suites to design packages including fonts,
which have intellectual property content. Come the beginning of
July, it could be too late.”
Penalties for copyright infringement can total tens of thousands
of pounds, as companies caught using software illegally could be
faced with fines for past unlicensed use and legal
costs.
EVENT: On 11th June in Manchester we are
hosting a free OUT-LAW Breakfast Seminar
on Marketing on the web: top legal tips.
