WORCESTER-based IT and software experts Morley Systems is advising local businesses to check their software licences following the recent news that the UK has paid out almost £2m in fines for breaching the law.
The figures were published by the Business Software Alliance which has received £1.8m over the past five years in fines from people using illegal software.
Licensing laws, which relate to all business and home users, can be breached in a number of ways, including outright piracy, borrowing off a friend, and using home or consumer software for business use such as student editions of software in a business environment.
"Licence breaches affect anyone using the illegal software (whether knowingly or not), the directors of the business and also, the business's IT contractors," said Chris Newman, IT director at The Tything-based firm.
"A lot of breaches are eventually brought to the attention of the BSA through whistleblowers. But the alliance can track down illegal software use when a person activates their computer."
For more information call Morley Systems on 01905 330 090 or log onto www.morleysystems.co.uk
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