Deliberately or unintentionally, this represents a huge loss of revenue for software vendors. The Business Software Alliance has launched a high profile campaign of press and radio advertising, posters, direct mail and on-line exposure, highlighting the fact that 1 in 4 software packages used by UK companies are unlicensed. It's a serious issue. Company directors could face unlimited fines or up to 2 years in prison. The Software Audit Return is annual and companies are being asked to treat it with the seriousness of a tax return.
Companies can use the completed return as the foundation for an ongoing Annual Software Policy.
A major focus of the campaign is asking people to come forward with information on companies who use software illegally. What's required is a standard desktop configuration. Companies have different policies on licensing but the safest approach is to over-license if the exact number of users is not known, but is not an economical way to run an IT budget although keeping you legal. Accurate information has become more important and there is a range of tools to help do the job. Metering - More important is discovering actual usage as a user with a PC packed with applications may use nothing other than the word processor.