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BSA | The Software Alliance launches ‘Fair Play’ campaign to tackle unlicensed software use in Manchester

BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA), an organisation representing the software industry, is today launching a ‘Fair Play’ campaign, urging businesses in Manchester to check that their software licensing is up to scratch.

Over 11,000 businesses in the area will be contacted by BSA over the next month, and directed to an individual profile on the BSA Company Index portal. On the portal companies are given to check their licensing status and make sure that all of the software installed on their computers is properly licensed. Companies will also be able to obtain free advice on how to manage their software assets correctly.

There are a number of security, commercial and legal risks when using unlicensed software. Recent research from IDC shows that consumers and enterprises have a 33% chance of encountering malware when they obtain and install a counterfeit software program or buy a PC with unlicensed or counterfeit software on it. Moreover, companies found to be using unlicensed software by the BSA may face legal consequences that result in financial ramifications. For example, UK engineering design company Project Options Ltd paid out £33,000 earlier this year for using unlicensed Autodesk software.

These pitfalls can be avoided if companies implement Software Asset Management (SAM). SAM is designed to help businesses make smarter decisions on how they manage their software licences. SAM can also bring other benefits. Implementing even baseline SAM tools and processes, such as regular inventories and a software use policy for employees, can give companies a holistic view of what software they are using and what they are licensed to use. This will also put management in full control of their software licensing and ultimately can lead to cost savings by helping companies identify possible over-licensed software in their organisations.

“Poor software management affects businesses of all sizes,” says Warren Weertman, Senior Counsel - EMEA, BSA | The Software Alliance. “Regardless of whether you’re a SME or a large enterprise, the impact and consequences of using unlicensed software remain the same. We want to encourage companies in Manchester to be aware of the potential commercial and legal risks. But we also want to highlight the benefits of implementing SAM. There are many free tools available that can help with software management and these can ultimately help a business remain compliant and also save them money.”

The BSA’s recent Global Software Survey, found that in 2013 the rate of unlicensed software in the UK was 24%, equating to a commercial value of £1.2 billion.

If companies are concerned about their software licensing, they can visit the BSA website which also provides guidance and resources that can help ensure a company is operating efficiently and legally.

BSA continues to encourage reports of unlicensed software, whether it is businesses using software without the correct licence or individuals selling illegal software over the internet. Confidential reports can be submitted at www.bsa.org, where guidance and resources can also be found to help companies ensure they are operating within the law. In UK BSA offers reward of up to £10,000 for reporting companies using unlicensed software use.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by BSA | The Software Alliance .