Member Article

Software licensing rules 'ignored' by UK businesses

Small business owners in the UK are putting their businesses at risk by illegally using pirate and unlicensed software, according to a new study.

71% of IT managers admit that they either know their software does not comply with licensing standards and have done nothing to rectify the situation, or they have no idea either whether it complies or not. Firms who do not audit and monitor their installed software risk criminal charges and large financial penalties.

Centennial Software, who carried out the research, warn that companies who fail to licence software are also exposed to greater software costs due to over-licensing, higher costs per unit from decentralised purchasing and unused maintenance agreements.

Alex Hilton, vice-president of UK sales at Centennial, said: “It’s worrying that companies are continuing to ignore the risk of non-compliance with software standards, even when they know they could be facing a fine and potentially serious implications for their reputation. “Microsoft’s piracy audits are very active, and it seems every day we read more horror stories about companies being caught out. There’s really no excuse for this kind of apathy any more.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .