Biggest ever award to BSAA for piracy
Announcement posted by Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) 01 Aug 2001
Court awards $210,000 against Logicworld
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) today announced it has been awarded damages of $210,000 against Logicworld Pty Ltd (now called Bicon Management Pty Ltd) the largest court award made by an Australian court for use of unlicensed computer software.
The award was made pursuant to consent orders in the Federal Court of Australia on July 27th
.
Brent McArdle, the sole director of Logicworld was also ordered to pay the BSAAs costs in the proceedings on an indemnity basis.
The BSAA alleged that Logicworld was using 182 unlicensed copies of software from Adobe, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec. The total value of the illegal software involved was $142,058.47.
BSAA Chairman, Jim Macnamara, said the court judgement showed the high cost of using illegal software. It sends a message to all management that you can get caught and, if you do, it can cost much more than buying the software in the first place, he said.
Logicworld is now under administration, but the BSAA will be pursuing the damages according to Mr Macnamara.
The announcement comes just one month after the end of the BSAA Software Truce. More than 1,000 companies registered to participate in the Truce and a further 141 companies were reported for using illegal software during the Truce and did not register for immunity. Investigations are continuing against those companies and further announcements of legal action are expected shortly, Mr Macnamara said.
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More information:
Media inquiries/interviews: See contact details below.
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143. BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
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The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA) which operates globally in 65 countries.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the voice of the world's software and Internet industry before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Macromedia, Microsoft, Symantec, and UGS. BSA regional members in Asia include AccTrak21 and Borland.
The award was made pursuant to consent orders in the Federal Court of Australia on July 27th
.
Brent McArdle, the sole director of Logicworld was also ordered to pay the BSAAs costs in the proceedings on an indemnity basis.
The BSAA alleged that Logicworld was using 182 unlicensed copies of software from Adobe, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec. The total value of the illegal software involved was $142,058.47.
BSAA Chairman, Jim Macnamara, said the court judgement showed the high cost of using illegal software. It sends a message to all management that you can get caught and, if you do, it can cost much more than buying the software in the first place, he said.
Logicworld is now under administration, but the BSAA will be pursuing the damages according to Mr Macnamara.
The announcement comes just one month after the end of the BSAA Software Truce. More than 1,000 companies registered to participate in the Truce and a further 141 companies were reported for using illegal software during the Truce and did not register for immunity. Investigations are continuing against those companies and further announcements of legal action are expected shortly, Mr Macnamara said.
##
More information:
Media inquiries/interviews: See contact details below.
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143. BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
##
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA) which operates globally in 65 countries.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the voice of the world's software and Internet industry before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates computer users on software copyrights; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Macromedia, Microsoft, Symantec, and UGS. BSA regional members in Asia include AccTrak21 and Borland.