By Will Sturgeon, 17 March 2004 12:50
NEWS The Business Software Alliance has issued a reminder to UK businesses that they have until 26 March to return a completed software audit in order to escape legal action as part of the organisation's 'Detox Campaign'.
Any company that returns an audit will be protected from legal action - even if software that has been audited turns out to be in breach of its licence.
Siobhan Carroll, regional manager for Northern Europe within the BSA, said the scheme provides companies with a risk-free way of getting their software management under control.
The BSA is keen to allow that not all companies in breach of software licenses have done so knowingly or with any malicious intent of breaking the law. But all the more reason to take advantage of such an amnesty.
Complicated licensing models and a general legacy of confusion within companies regarding 'who bought what when?' as well as changing responsibilities within companies for keeping tabs on software use and licences often contribute towards accidental breaches.
The Web site includes a step-by-step approach to finding all of the necessary information to get started in SAM, from centralising purchasing and distribution; to setting policies and procedures; to creating and maintaining SAM databases.
"Software is a business productivity tool, helping businesses to create, profit and grow from increased efficiencies and lower costs. Businesses should manage their software as they would any valuable business asset," said Carroll.
Companies looking for more information on software licences and the BSA audit should visit the organisation's online software asset management centre Just Ask SAM.
Comments
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1. anonymous
The BSA - as well as other licencing consultancy organisations such as FAST - are just a boil-on-the-bum, using ficticious legal powers to sell services most of us do not need. Do they think we IT Directors want to legally expose ourselves? Do they think that we don't know what goes on? Do they actually live in the real world of IT?
2. anonymous
What power do the BSA have and why? When we get material from them it is essentially a company in America... I do not understand their position.
3. anonymous
Now I know where SCO's threats of legal action got some inspiration from... We received the same letter two years ago, yet the way it was worded, it sounded like BSA wanted to take us to court unless we used them to audit our software.
I think I would rather do the auditing myself, and just purchase any extra licenses needed (to which I actually have one or two more than I really need, incase of last minute additions to the system).
Do they really think that system administrators and other IT professionals don't keep a good track of thier software licensing? Of course, this is targetted at companies that outsource their IT, and will totally panic if they see threats of legal action.
4. IT Manager
I had a visit from FAST recently and the impression I got was that their aim is to sell you services, under the threat of legal action.
5. anonymous
The BSA approach is to make a target feel as though they have to prove their innocence when in fact the basis of law the world over is, as everyone should be aware, to prove guilt.
I've received numerous warnings and legal threats from these people. I'm sick of the intimidation and now refuse point blank to comply with their heavy handed demands. If they want to know my software situation they can take me to court. But once that happens I'll do my damndest to turn the whole thing into an almighty media circus. The last thing they need is that kind of bad publicity.
6. Joe
Aren't those letters considered extortion in some courts?
Smells like a 'protection' contract.
(As in from them)
I'd love to see how they reason that in court. Weird 'logic', since you can use reason to say anything that you wish to be true, is in fact, true.
7. anonymous
I received a letter from the BSA a while ago when I was in charge of part of the network belonging to a VERY well known UK financial institution.
After much consideration, I replied that we regarded the details that they were seeking as commercially confidential, that the software authors/vendors who they claimed to represent would undoubtedly have records of what we were licenced to use, and that we would not be commenting further. (..as an aside, all the software that we were using was indeed licenced, catalogued, and monitored for compliance)
I really didn't like their approach! It was unsolicited, adversarial, and there was no mention of arrangements concerning an NDA - very poor!
As to the powers that these people have - they really are frightening! Don't misunderstand me, AFAIK the BSA have no special government or priviliged legal recognition, but try a Google search for "Anton Pillar" and you will see what I mean!