BSA targets Perth with Software Compliance Check

Small to medium businesses in Perth are being asked to check if their software is legit during a new campaign by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) Australia.

The Software Compliance Check, which is running during September, is designed to help business owners check that they are using legitimate software and have the proper licences to avoid risks associated with software piracy.

Perth companies with 10 to 150 employees in the architecture, construction, engineering, creative and automotive industries will be sent an online questionnaire that will help them to check their software licences.

The campaign will be rolled out to other states in Australia in October.

BSA Australia co-chair, Clayton Noble, said in a statement that awareness was the first step towards compliance, which was why they were offering businesses an online portal.

"Many companies realise how critical software asset management is, yet don't always know how to address it," he said. "We provide software tools and resources at our website which can help companies avoid the legal pitfalls of software piracy."

A Melbourne engineering firm was recently fined $150,000 by the BSA for allegedly using software without a licence in an out of court settlement.

In addition to paying the fine, the company was also required to buy the required software licences and implement software asset management (SAM) plans to prevent future software infringements. BSA Australia has been contacted for further comment.

Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU

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