Software License Fines Fall Hardest on the Smallest

Posted by ArmadaIG under Legal
From http://www.midmarket.eweek.com 6190 days ago
Made Hot by: on December 24, 2007 5:24 am

Most small and midsize businesses aren't even aware when they violate a software license, according to software industry sources, but that doesn't stop the fines from piling up. Nearly 90 percent of the fines collected annually by the Business Software Alliance for software license violations falls on small and midsize businesses, many of whom have no idea that they are violating copyrights and cannot afford to pay fines.

The Associated Press reported that figure Nov. 26, claiming that close to 90 percent of the $13 million burden in BSA fines falls on SMBs. The BSA represents major software vendors and promotes copyright protection, cyber-security, trade and e-commerce.