Software pirates face legal action

SOFTWARE piracy costs the Irish software industry €40 million a year and now the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has started taking legal action against companies suspected of using unlicensed software.

The BSA has targeted Cork-based Snap-on Equipment Europe Limited and has started legal proceedings against the firm. The BSA alleges that the firm had unlicensed copies of Macromedia and Microsoft software programmes installed on office computers.

However, a spokesman for Snap-on said they have provided proof that their software is fully licensed to the BSA and intend to fight any court action brought against the company.