London is responsible for more reports of software piracy than any other place in the UK, with one in five pieces of software in the capital being used illegally, according to the trade body. The BSA has run similar campaigns in Glasgow and Manchester.
The BSA said that it is already investigating several companies in the London area for using unlicensed software. “As a result, these businesses face the prospect of legal proceedings and the BSA is urging other businesses to avoid being subject to the same fate,” it said in a statement. “In the current economic climate, London’s businesses cannot afford to waste money on legal actions, subsequent financial settlements and the unplanned purchase of legitimate software.”
“The current downturn in the economy does not negate the need for businesses to keep the software they are using up-to-date and legal,” said BSA spokesperson Alyna Cope. “We want to promote the value of software and educate businesses in the capital on how it should be better managed, helping to save them money at a time when it is most needed and reducing the risk of facing legal action further down the line.”
“We urge London businesses to come forward and ensure that their software licensing is up to scratch, checking all software – from office productivity suites, to design packages and fonts,” said Cope.