BSA gets tough on UK IT firms

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has applied for court orders against RedPC Services and Overclockers UK for suspected use of illegal software after both companies failed to complete a software audit.

The BSA said that satisfactory responses were not received after requesting the audit, making it necessary to request an order from the court instead.

RedPC Services is an IT training firm and Overclockers UK is IT hardware vendor.

In both cases the alleged unlicensed software use concerns Microsoft and/or Adobe products.

"The BSA and its members are happy to advise and support businesses that need guidance through the licensing process," said Sarah Coombes, senior director of legal affairs in EMEA for the BSA.

"These cases, however, called for an alternative approach. We tried to work with these businesses, but a lack of co-operation left us with no alternative but to pursue this through the courts.

"Companies need to understand that failure to adequately account for the software they use cannot be tolerated."

Rupert Lowery, managing director of Overclockers UK, told vnunet.com that, although he believed the BSA's actions to be rather heavy handed, the company is taking the claim seriously and providing the relevant information.

"We are very happy to help and co-operate, and that is what we are doing," he said. "We are investigating the claim and responding accordingly. Ultimately we expect to have no issue whatsoever."