Manchester businesses targeted in unlicensed software crackdown

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.