We all know that pirated software is illegal…
But what you probably don’t realise is that actually these days there are organisations like the Federation Against Software Theft and the Business Software Alliance who have the power to enter your business premises, unannounced, and perform an audit of your systems.
If you’re found to be in breach of software licensing regulations, the penalty can be very serious.
It has been known for small businesses to be given a £50,000 fine plus the cost of purchasing the licenses that they were using but had not purchased.
Now this is quite shocking really…
Particularly as it can be easy for Business Owners and I.T. Managers to forget about licenses when adding new members of computers – and it’s fairly common to lose track of how many of each license you have purchased.
We’ve seen it with customers that have recently come onto our Cloud Plus I.T. Support service. It’s not ideal (to say the least)…
And suggesting you’d ‘forgotten’ to set things up properly will offer no defence in court.
So if you’re knowingly using pirated software now is the time to act!
Here’s our top 3 tips:
1. Keep a copy of any software license receipts in a single place.2. Regularly audit each PC/Server on your network to ensure legality.3. Do not download software which is known to be ‘cracked’.
Don’t get caught in the £50,000 trap that so many other businesses have found themselves fall into…
At Cloud Plus, not only do we ‘Take The Pain Out Of Your I.T.’, but can also keep you legal.
We regularly send out tech tips and advice to our customers, helping them grow and run their businesses, whilst also providing them with top notch I.T. Support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my business really be fined for using unlicensed software?
Yes - organisations such as the Federation Against Software Theft and the Business Software Alliance have the power to enter your premises unannounced and audit your systems, and small businesses have been given fines of £50,000 plus the cost of the licences they should have bought.
Is it a valid excuse to say I forgot to buy a software licence?
No - forgetting to set up licensing properly offers no defence in court, even if it was a genuine oversight.
How can I make sure my business stays compliant with software licensing?
Keep copies of all software licence receipts in one place, regularly audit each PC and server on your network to check legality, and never download software known to be 'cracked'.
Who has the power to audit a business's software licences?
Bodies like the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) can enter your business premises, unannounced, to carry out an audit.
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