Software industry advocacy group BSA The Software Alliance has settled four cases of unlicensed software use across Australia with $65,500 in total damages awarded against businesses.
The settled cases involved businesses in Victoria and Western Australia and two based in Quensland, including one for the highest settlement of $18,000.
Cases settled were:
- A $35,000 settlement with a Victorian retail fit out company. The business was found to be using unlicensed copies of Autodesk’s AutoCAD.
- Western Australian construction company was found to be using unlicensed versions of Autodesk’s AutoCAD. The balustrade and fencing company settled for $10,000.
- A Queensland-based IT contractor has settled with the BSA for a total of $2,500. The organisation was found to have installed Microsoft Windows onto a number of computers which were subsequently sold on to customers.
- A Queensland Training Institute has settled for $18,000 damages. The organisation was found to have unlicensed copies of Microsoft Office software installed on company computers.
{loadposition peter}Each business caught using unlicensed software was required to purchase genuine software licenses for its ongoing use and had to pay copyright infringement damages.
“It’s important that businesses, no matter of location or industry, are vigilant when it comes to their software and ensuring that they are software compliant,” says BSA’s director of compliance for APAC, Gary Gan.
“Businesses should look to implement an effective Software Asset Management (SAM) system in order to help them manage their software licenses.
“In the long run, SAM systems will also help businesses cut costs, helping to advise on what software licenses are still used and are needed for the business to operate effectively.”
Gan says the BSA is continuing to offer up to $20,000 to eligible recipients who disclose accurate information regarding unlawful copying or use of BSA members’ software.
And he also says the organisation is committed to its role in raising awareness of the risks to businesses using unlicensed software and the damaging effects that software piracy has on the Australian IT industry.
According to Gan, potential recipients must provide assistance and evidence to support the information, as may be required by the BSA’s legal advisers, in connection with any claim or legal proceedings initiated by the BSA members.