The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is offering £20,000 to London workers who shop their bosses in the run up to Christmas as part of its anti-piracy crackdown in the capital.

The BSA said it has so far received almost 60 leads involving cases of suspected illegal software use in London this year. The alliance, which campaigns aginst businesses which use illegal software, is backed by more than 80 computer firms including Apple and Microsoft.

The BSA is doubling its reward to £20,000 for whistleblowers because they are crucial for identifying potential cases.

Companies can face penalties for failing to ensure legal software is installed on every computer or that licences are up to date.

Firms can also be forced to buy legitimate software as part of a settlement.

The BSA took legal action against 294 UK firms and levied penalties worth £447,000 in 2008.

A spokesman said: “We are already investigating several companies in London for using unlicensed software and they face the prospect of legal proceedings. Businesses should think carefully about their software use and avoid wasting money on legal action, financial settlements and the unplanned purchase of legitimate software.”

Earlier this year, Soho House, owned by founder Nick Jones and Richard Caring, paid an undisclosed sum for “alleged underlicensing of Microsoft software”. While Soho House said it never copied any software, it reached a settlement after being unable to produce licences for 13 of its computers.

The BSA's highest-ever single settlement with a UK business was for £300,000.

 

Source: London Evening Standard