Hampshire based firm Tiger Communications plc has been forced to pay £25,000 to the Business Software Alliance (BSA) after an audit revealed unlicensed software use in its call management solutions business.
The BSA is a global not-for-profit trade association which promotes a long term legislative and legal environment in the software industry. Chairman Phillipe Briere commented: "A company that specialises in call management should be aware of the importance of having quality systems in place to avoid compromising its standard of service. Regardless of the excuse, Tiger Communications is in breach of copyright law and now has to face the consequences."
The fine included settlement fees and the costs of buying the licenses in order to become compliant. However, businesses should also bear in mind that the BSA regularly publishes names of companies who fall foul of copyright law and offer rewards of up to £20,000 to those willing to supply information on possible illegal software use.
This case should serve as a reminder to businesses to both implement and monitor proper software management policies or potentially risk damaging consequences.
TECH BYTES
Feed in tariffs to be halved - a blow to the solar industry
Last week the government confirmed leaked reports that feed-in-tariffs, which are designed to support the installation of renewable energy technology will be more than halved. Since the scheme was introduced in April 2010, it has seen 100,000 solar installations, the creation of more than 22,000 jobs and almost 4,000 new businesses. The industry has always accepted that the lower costs of installation would mean the tariffs would eventually need to be revised but it has been suggested that the sudden and drastic cuts will irreparably damage its success. Campaign group Friends of the Earth have since threatened legal action against the government if the cuts are not reviewed.
Access to Newzbin2 - denied?
At the end of October Telecoms company BT was given 14 days to block access to Newzbin2, an illegal file-sharing website, in the first UK high Court ruling of its kind. BT started blocking access to the website on 2 November however it has been reported that users are still able to access the website using various workaround tactics. The Court ruling has raised concerns from Internet Service Providers as belief spreads that the future burden of dealing with copyright infringement will fall on the ISPs instead of regulators or rights holders.
Olympic Park - What happens when the games are over?
The Olympic Park Legacy Company has launched a new offensive to secure tenants for the Press and Broadcast Centre once the 2012 games are over. The organisation would like to see Technology, digital, new media and creative businesses taking up residence in the park, however the OPLC has already spurned a £1bn offer from Wellcome Trust to turn the Olympic Park buildings, in east London, into a science park. Interested parties, from start-ups to established global companies, have nine weeks to submit their proposals and take advantage of London's expansion eastwards as the area becomes a destination for business, leisure and work.
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