Anti-software piracy organiation the Business Software
Alliance (BSA) has used its latest survey figures to justify its
strong approach to UK software piracy and call for tougher
legislation.
BSA's figures show the first increase in the amount of illegal
business software used in the UK since the annual global survey
began in 1994 - up 1% from 25% in 2001 to 26% in 2002.
However, that figure of 26% for the UK is still a far cry from
the 42% recorded in 1994 and in Western Europe is only bettered by
Finland and Denmark. The overall piracy rate in Western Europe is
35%.
Richard Saunders, former head of the BSA and member of the UK
committee, readily admitted the 1% rise "doesn’t have any huge
significance".
"The eight-year trend for the UK is still very much down," said
Saunders. "But that still means that for every three pieces of
software people buy, someone steals one."
The BSA, which represents software suppliers such as Adobe,
Apple and Microsoft, urged EU legislators to take a "zero
tolerance" approach to software copyright issues. It also reminded
users that non-compliance could result in reputational damage - not
to mention the ignominy of being named and shamed by the BSA having
been forced to cough up large fines.
However, Saunders claimed the BSA favours education over
enforcement. "It’s a complete misconception that anyone who comes
to us and asks for help is going to be sued," he said.
The BSA put the slight increase in the UK figures down to
tighter IT budgets - with IT departments scrimping on licensing to
cut costs - and the ease of distributing illegal software over the
internet using broadband.
Saunders said the BSA had discovered 55,000 pirated pieces of
software worldwide since January and issued 1,600 "takedown
notices" to ISPs.
Saunders also claimed there was "a certain amount of
complacency" among UK organisations and a tendency towards poor
software asset management.
The study, conducted by the International Planning and Research
Corporation (IPR), was based on sales data and market information
for 26 business software applications in six major world
regions.