The Business Software Alliance – which pursues Australian businesses using unlicensed software – has quadrupled the potential reward for people who dob in an offending business, driving the maximum up from $5000 to $20,000.Would-be dobbers will need to disclose accurate
information regarding unlawful copying or use of BSA members’ software, it says
– and they must be prepared to provide assistance and evidence to support the
information, as may be required by the BSA’s legal advisers.

BSA says it’s being driven – at least partly – by a recent IDC report that found
the higher the unlicensed software rate in a country, the more malware is
encountered on PCs in that country.

“The implication for governments, enterprises and end users is clear:
eliminating unlicensed software on their networks could help reduce the risk of
cybersecurity incidents,” said Roland Chan, BSA Asia-Pac senior director.

“BSA will continue to raise awareness around the benefits businesses will
see through introducing a robust SAM [software asset management] practice,
ultimately helping business to avoid financial, legal and security risks,”
said Chan.

 “With cybercrime rising in Australia, it’s now more crucial than
ever for organisations to introduce a formal policy on licensed software use to
create the best possible security to protect them from infringement and
cyber-theft.”

Natch, BSA is also driven by its member company’s desire to maximise software
revenue. In 2015, the alliance settled 16 software piracy cases – one third of
them occurring in Western Australia.

Estimated value of the illegal software was put at $311,500, down from more
than $820,000 in 2014.

Global companies that back the BSA include Apple, Microsoft, CA, IBM, Oracle
and Symantec. The local arm started in 1989 as the Business Software
Association of Australia.