Trading
Standardsand theFederation Against
Software Theft(Fast) have joined forces to
start cold calls on software resellers to check whether they are
selling bootleg software.
The two organisations will first start calling on resellers in
Cardiff from 8 November 2007. Trading Standards teams, using their
powers under the Trademarks Act of 1994, will check whether the
software being sold is within the law.
This is the first such initiative in the UK with Trading
Standards Officers now able to use their powers of inspection under
the terms of the law. The Federation will act as an additional
resource on the ground during inspections.
Gordon Brown recently announced £5m for trading standards to
enforce copyright laws. Trading Standards officers now have the
duty and power to enforce laws against criminal copyright offences.
Officers can now work with enforcement agencies such as Fast to
investigate copyright offences and may enter UK workplaces.
Dave Holland, of Cardiff Trading Standards, said, "Trading
standards may now work in co-operation with representative bodies
to enforce the law surrounding copyright infringement.
"The law has strengthened our position giving copyright offences
the attention they should have received 13 years ago when first
entered into the statute book. Trading Standards can not operate
with its hands tied - we can now move forward to address something
that has been ignored for far too long."