Record compensation for pirated software – Onet.pl

In 2012-2014, the value of claims paid annually to producers under the settlements and judgments exceed 1.3-1.5 million zł. This year’s compensation in October amounted to 4.4 million zł. A significant increase in the amount of claims reflects more effective collaboration software vendors with law enforcement agencies, as well as decreasing social acceptance and less and less leniency of the courts against piracy. Using illegal software is punishable by a fine or loss of liberty for up to 5 years.

From 2014 study published in the BSA Global Software Survey indicate that 51 percent. Polish software used without proper licensing. The problem concerns the industry m.in .: engineering, printing, surveying and architecture. Although this rate gradually declining (in 2007 was 57 per cent., In 2011 – 53 per cent.), In comparison with other countries in the region remains high. Slovakia and Hungary unlicensed uses less than 40 percent. software, and in the Czech Republic – 34 percent. The EU average is 31 percent.

“In Poland still rate the use of unlicensed software is high compared the EU average. The reason, however, for optimism is increasing interest in the implementation of best practice software asset management (SAM – Software Asset Management), mainly due to the resulting optimization of the cost of acquisition of the license to the software, “- said Bartlomiej Witucki, the representative of the BSA The Software Alliance in Poland.

In recent years, the BSA getting more and more numerous applications of the use of illegal software in companies throughout the country. “Compared with 2014 the number of notifications of pirated software has increased this year by nearly 170 percent. However, more important than the numbers are getting better quality submissions, “- says Witucki.

According to the representative of the BSA, the observed change may be the result of, among others, increased awareness that such reports are acceptable as so. whistleblowing, as well as the effectiveness of campaigns in social media and transparency of the new online application form at the BSA.

“Companies that pirated installations should be aware of not only the risk of legal liability and financial, but IT security threats, which means a risk of data loss or acquisition by third parties” – adds Witucki.

The Software Alliance BSA headquarters in Washington, DC, is an international organization representing the interests of software companies in dealing with governments and in the international market, promoting the use of legal software. BSA operates in more than 60 countries, including Poland, the global software market monitoring and conducting educational activities in the field of property rights. Currently leads the Lower and Upper Silesia, the campaign “Fact or Fiction”.