14th September 2011
Software – Stay Legal campaign launched in Wales
FAST trains up Trading Standards across Wales to stamp down on software piracy and protect jobs
A new campaign highlighting the hidden costs of software piracy to the Welsh economy, showing that the “victimless crime” of software theft directly affects jobs in the region, has been launched.
The campaign – ‘Software – Stay Legal’ – being launched at an event at Cardiff City Hall on October 4th will see the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) educating and training Trading Standards from across the country on the economic impact of piracy.
This is the first such initiative in Wales and brings together speakers from a host of software intellectual property rights holders such as Adobe and Symantec as well as FAST and the Intellectual Property Office. The event will highlight the role that software development has in job creation and the impact that piracy has on the economy of Wales.
Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, is also backing the campaign: “Industry-led organisations such as FAST ensure that consumers, legitimate businesses and their employees are protected from those who break the law. This partnership between enforcement agencies and Trading Standards underlines the importance of working together in raising awareness, offering guidance and where necessary, enforcing the law.”
FAST has also launched a new Law Enforcement website aimed at representatives of HMRC, the Police and Trading Standards. The site enables vendors to share intelligence with law enforcement officers as well as best practice.
Nick Kounoupias, Partner at DMH Stallard LLP stated: “Software piracy is sometimes seen as a victimless crime, but the simple reality is that anything that harms legitimate, legal sales will cost jobs. We strongly support the focused efforts of law enforcement in bringing criminal prosecutions against those involved in intellectual property crime. This event will provide delegates with the knowledge and understanding of intellectual property crimes as well as bring assistance to the investigative and legal challenges that this area can present.”
According to section 107A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Trading Standards has the duty and the power to prosecute copyright offences and this could mean inspecting UK workplaces to check compliance after a whistleblower complaint.
Nick Kounoupias concluded: “Trading Standards officers now have the duty and power to enforce against copyright offences. As such, Trading Standards may now work with education and support agencies such as FAST to educate and investigate to promote software compliance so vital in the Digital Economy in Wales and this conference will give them the tools to do just that!”
About FAST
The Federation Against Software Theft was formed in 1984; it was the first organisation globally to champion the professional management of legitimate software and protect publishers’ rights. It aims to reduce, restrict and or lessen the incidence of unauthorised dealings in computer software.
FAST is a not-for-profit organisation limited by guarantee and wholly owned by its members. It works on many fronts to promote the legitimate use of software and protect its members’ rights through education, enforcement, lobbying and promoting standards and best practice in business. www.fastiis.org
