In a single example publicised by the BSA during the year, reports Techworld one disgruntled employee was paid £10,000 for offering incriminating information on a company which paid BSA £100,000, plus sizable fees to licence the software correctly.

A 2010 study produced by IDC for the BSA found that by reducing the 27% software piracy rate in the UK by 10% over four years, 13,011 high-tech jobs, £5.4bn in new economic activity and £1.5bn in new taxes could be created by 2013, with 87% of those benefits remaining in the local economy.

Early fines this year are for Flintshire-based firm System Labelling Limited that settled with BSA for the use of unlicensed Microsoft software paying £24,800 including settlement fees and cost of purchasing the software licenses it needed to ensure it was compliant.

OCB Media Limited specialised in producing medical training systems for healthcare professionals, pays £19,000, also found to be under-licensing Microsoft and Adobe software, and agreed a £7,800 settlement with the BSA and license purchase of £11,500 for ongoing use of the software. The figure takes into account the company was undergoing a scheduled computer upgrade at the time.

Most publicised fines involve Microsoft & Adobe software.  It would be interesting to learn if any other software is ever involved! The least publicised side to BSA is its charming Cyber House  complete with Games.