Businesses continue to use pirated software

Businesses are continuing to flaunt the rules by persisting in their use of pirated computer software, new research claims.

Mike Goldsworthy, technical director of IT specialists GHS, which are based in Swindon, said that: “Figures from the Business Software Alliance (BSA) found 27 per cent of software used by UK companies last year was illegal, the same figure as in 2004.

“The lack of respect being shown to intellectual property is resulting in major losses to UK software publishers. In 2005, it amounted to over $1.8bn (£96m), the fifth largest total in the world.”

Recent technological developments such as rising uptake in broadband and increased capabilities for copying and sharing software are blamed for increases in copyright infringement.

“Businesses need to be educated, particularly amongst those which profit from the value that the software delivers in terms of productivity.” Mike added.

“Disappointingly the UK piracy levels have remained constant, and this reinforces the mountain the UK still has to climb.”

This article originally appeared in the Swindon Business News on the 5 June 2006 and Swindon Advertiser on 7 June 2006

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