The Business Software Alliance has extracted £30,000 from Nationwide Accident Repairs Services Plc in an out of court settlement over the firm's lack of correct software licenses.

The BSA received an anonymous tip-off via its website before starting the investigation. The firm was actually carrying out an audit when the investigation began. Nationwide was "quick to realise its responsibility and gave BSA its full co-operation during the investigation".

Siobhan Carroll, regional manager at BSA, said if companies should ask the BSA for help if they have trouble ensuring compliance: "If a company puts its hands up to the BSA and admits there are problems with their licences or with their software then they are effectively protecting themselves from blame and they are protecting themselves from us investigating their software licensing at a later date."

She added that the BSA has guides and online tools to help organisations properly audit their software. ®

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