BSA gets tougher on unlicensed software

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has launched a new offensive to cut down on software piracy in the face of ever-increasing levels of fake software.

The BSA is to put an increased emphasis on enforcement, to try and stop people thinking they won't get caught if they use illegal software.

Last year the BSA took 6,500 European businesses to court, but this year it plans to do even more.

The organisation, which represents software vendors, said software piracy was up three per cent this year, and pirated software now accounts for almost 40 per cent of all software.

The BSA's UK campaign manager Mike Newton said no other industry would tolerate 40 per cent of its revenues being stolen and the software vendors will do everything they can to take action against those involved.