Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/software_piracy_static/
Use of unlicensed software by UK businesses remains stuck at around 27 per cent, according to the latest study by the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
Worldwide piracy rates are also steady at a higher rate of 35 per cent.
UK figures have remained the same for the last three years prompting the BSA to call for tougher government action. It suggests that current penalties are not a sufficient deterrent against the use of counterfeit or unlicensed software.
A recent consultation on the law on damages from the Department of Constitutional Affairs backed the need for bigger fines, according to the BSA.
"Despite attempts to educate businesses, and increased efforts to enforce the licensing laws by the government and the industry, it is clear that more must be done," said Sarah Coombes, director of legal affairs at the BSA EMEA.
The use of pirated software by UK businesses cost local and international software publishers $1.67bn in 2006, according to a study conducted by analyst house IDC and commissioned by the BSA.
It's wise to view these figures with a degree of caution because previous estimates have equated every instance of pirated software use as a lost sale. And when even senior Microsoft execs acknowledge that use of pirated Windows leads to sales of Microsoft software over the long term, it becomes clear that the economics of software piracy are more complex than the BSA would have us believe. ®
BSA dubs Manchester second worst for piracy (19 May 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/05/19/bsa_manchester_software_piracy_federation/
Developing world buoys up software pirates (15 May 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/05/15/bsa_software_piracy_survey/
BSA sinks teeth into US dentists and door makers (12 February 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/02/12/bsa_us_unlicensed_software_claims/
Glaswegian piracy drive yields just 41 'possible' offenders (7 February 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/02/07/bsa_claims_glasgow_piracy_success/
Software pirates put sizeable dent in UK economy (22 January 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/22/bsa_software_piracy/
Russian piracy crackdown targets the opposition (15 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/15/russia_anti_piracy_crackdown/
Trading Standards comes a calling on Cardiff's software sellers (9 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/09/cardiff_inspectors_federation/
Glasgow is UK's runner-up in software piracy stakes (31 October 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/10/31/glasgow_software_piracy/
International media firm pays $3.5m over pirate software (18 September 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/09/18/bsa_record_fine/
American sent to the slammer for faking Windows certificates (9 August 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/08/09/american_man_sentenced_to_jail_for_windows_piracy/
UK firm pays biggest ever fine over 'pirate' software (21 June 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/06/21/bsa_record_fine/
Rock star says piracy battle is lost (15 June 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/15/rowntree_music_piracy/
US seeks to criminalize 'attempted' piracy (15 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/doj_proposes_toughter_copyright_laws/
BSA fires off writs against online resellers (13 March 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/03/13/bsa_enforcement/
Court smack down for Russian piracy epic (15 February 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/15/russia_microsoft_piracy/
Romania: Software piracy made us what we are today (2 February 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/02/romania_microsoft_piracy/
German pirate gets three years in the brig (29 January 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/29/german_pirate_ms_rejig/
Piracy losses fabricated - Aussie study (9 November 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/09/my_study_beats_your_study/
Fine unlicensed software users, says BSA (30 August 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/30/fine_software_pirates_says_bsa/
BSA urges government to fight software pirates (23 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/23/bsa_software_piracy_survey/
£20,000 reward for software whistleblowers (3 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/03/reward_for_whistleblowers/
Your staff will grass you up, warns BSA (10 March 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/10/bsa_workplace_whistleblowing_survey/
Cut software piracy, boost UK economy (8 December 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/08/software_piracy/
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