Software Publishers Offer Rewards to Combat Piracy in UK

Strategic Insights -

British software publishers are taking a stand against piracy in the country by launching a hotlines for people to report companies that are using illegal software. The Business Software Alliance estimates that one in two software programs in the UK has been illegally copied last year, resulting in a cost to the industry of over £350 million. The alliance is offering rewards of up to £2,500 to those who provide information that leads to a successful prosecution of a company using illegal software.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Business Software Alliance estimates that one in two software programs in the UK has been illegally copied last year, resulting in a cost to the industry of over £350 million.
  • The alliance is offering rewards of up to £2,500 to those who provide information that leads to a successful prosecution of a company using illegal software.
  • The reward will only be paid in the event of a successful prosecution, and is limited to 10 per cent of the damages awarded up to £2,500.
  • A lack of manuals, training, and support services is a good indication that the software has not been legally bought.
  • The BSA expects calls from employees, former employees, and consultants.
  • The BSA has already launched similar schemes in Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
  • Software piracy is a significant problem in the UK, with an estimated 49 per cent of software being illegal.
  • The BSA estimates that software piracy amounted to over £8 billion worldwide last year.
  • Spain has a piracy rate of 88 per cent, while Russia has a piracy rate of 98 per cent.

Statistics:

  • 49% of software in the UK is estimated to be illegal.
  • £350 million is the estimated cost to the industry of software piracy in the UK last year.
  • £8 billion is the estimated amount of software piracy worldwide last year.
  • Britain has one of the lowest piracy rates in Europe.
  • 88 per cent of software in Spain is estimated to be illegal.
  • 98 per cent of software in Russia is estimated to be illegal.

Sources:

  • The Business Software Alliance
  • "Reward Offered for Whistleblowers on Software Piracy" by The Times (exact date not specified)