James Delahunty
9 Sep 2011 19:38
BSA tip-off leads to settlement over use of unlicensed software.
Citrin Cooperman, an accounting, tax and consulting firm that works with entrepreneurs, of New York, NY, has paid $385,000 to the BSA to settle claims that it had unlicensed software developed by Adobe, Corel, Microsoft and Symantec installed on some of its computers.
The company has also agreed to delete all unlicensed copies of software from its computer and acquire any licenses necessary to be complaint, and to implement stronger software asset management (SAM).
"Our firm has grown significantly in the last decade. We have always felt we were fully in compliance and had no idea there was any unlicensed software on our computers. When BSA asked us to check, we launched an investigation. Upon learning there was unlicensed software, we immediately contacted BSA and corrected it," said Joel Cooperman, Managing Partner of Citrin Cooperman.
"We are happy to say that in addition to ensuring all of our software products are fully and properly licensed, BSA has helped us safeguard our IT systems from serious risks such as malware and viruses that pirated software often brings."
The BSA was alerted to the unlicensed software use by confidential reports made on its nopiracy.org website.
"Businesses that employ unlicensed or pirated software put their companies at risk and jeopardize the efficient and effective operations of their IT systems," said BSA's Vice President of Anti-Piracy and General Counsel Jodie Kelley.
"Proper software asset management helps to maximize a company's IT investment and ensure the highest level of software security. Unfortunately, the use of unlicensed software is a significant issue that impacts the technology industry and ultimately jeopardizes the spirit of innovation and creativity that is so critical to success."
According to BSA data, almost half of all suspected cases of corporate piracy in the United States originated in six states: New York, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Michigan.