Trading
Standardsofficers in Cardiff have conducted
their first random search of a business in the city undernew copyright powersto stamp out
illegal use of software.
Officers conducted a full forensic inspection of all the
company's software, Trading Standards said, but revealed no details
of the company involved or outcome of the search.
Business organisations were alarmed last year when the
government gave Trading Standards the power to enter workplaces
without a warrant or prior notice.
Trading Standards is also empowered to carry out criminal
investigations and hand over offenders to the authorities for
prosecution.
Critics have denounced the involvement of Trading Standards as
misuse of public funds.
They said the agency should be protecting consumers from
dangerous or fraudulent goods instead of protecting the interests
of software companies.
Trading Standards said the agency is charged with protecting
consumers and businesses, which includes protecting their
intellectual property rights.
The first search by Trading Standards comes after a joint
education programme in Cardiff with the Federation Against Software
Theft and Investors in Software
(FAST IiS).
Dave Holland of Cardiff Trading Standards said the agency was
working with FAST IiS to enforce copyright law and plan a programme
of advice for local businesses.
"We want to help business meet legal requirements and remain
competitive, but any business flagrantly breaking the law will be
brought to account," he said.
In the same week as the Trading Standards search, the
Business
Software Alliance (BSA) announced it had caught three UK
companies using unlicensed software.
The BSA, a government-backed organisation funded by software
makers, said it had reached settlements of more than £35,000 with
the firms.
They were identified as GI Hadfield & Son in Droylsden,
Street CraneXpress in Sheffield, and Atlas Management Corporation
in London.
Software piracy, estimated at 26% in the UK, exposes businesses
to financial and legal risks as well as operational failure and
data loss, the BSA said.