Your Liabilities
The survey of 364 UK computer users,
also found that 73 per cent would insist on stricter
enforcement of their company’s software management
policy and 63 per cent would consider their jobs at
risk, if they thought their company was using illegal
software."
Licensing checks and becoming more and
more commonplace and the penalties for breaches are
becoming more and more severe. Companies caught out
by spot checks or malicious reporting are faced with
a fine of at least 100% of the software cost at full
retail prices. Almost every company in Britain, knowingly
or not is facing potential liabilities running into
billions.
The BSA is always requesting audits
from UK companies to prove that their software is
licensed. Any suspected anomalies can result in a
raid. Some recently hit companies have included the
following:
Frazier International Limited, an asset
management company based in Scotland, paid £40,000
to the BSA. The company was investigated and found
to have unlicensed software on its network following
a report to the BSA Website, www.bsa.org/uk. In accordance
with the BSA’s reward policy, the individual
who made the report has received 10% of the settlement
- £4,000.
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What Can I Do?
Your business is under a double threat from software
companies and their own resellers themselves who can
easily overestimate license costs and use scaremongering
as a common tactic. There are hundreds of regulations,
license clauses, suppliers and audit requirements.
The most important issues for your company are defensive:
What is the minimum license fee I should pay to ensure
I am compliant with BSA regulations?
Why are there different license types, costs and packages
from the same manufacturers?
Why do some shops seem very cheap and others expensive?
How do I complete a BSA Audit without falling into
any traps?
The best advice is to talk to an expert before you
end up deeper in trouble. Our adviceline is free of
charge, confidential and we have no links with software
manufacturers.
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