The sum of £51,000 represents payment for valid licences and compensation to Network Associates for past installation and use of Cybercop, one of Network Associates’ high value security products.
Julian Heathcote Hobbins, FAST’s legal counsel, said:
"I make no bones about it, using illegal software is simply not going to pay. It just is not worth the time, money and embarrassment of being caught. We receive over a 1,000 complaints a year on software misuse, often by ex-employees best placed to know if a corporate is under licensing. This was no exception.
“By the time we contacted the offending organisation we knew exactly which PC's were running illegal programs. With this sort of information it amazes me why so many companies think they can get away with it."
Julian Heathcote Hobbins added that Network Associates opted to keep confidential the name of the company involved to retain a customer relationship.
The company blamed poor software management, although it appeared to FAST that licensing was simply given a low priority. The ex-employee who blew the whistle had raised the licensing issue with the employer before approaching FAST.