Australian ISP Magna Data is the latest company to cop a proverbial hiding from the Business Software Association of Australia for illegal software use.
The BSAA yesterday announced Magna Data agreed to an out of court settlement fine, believed to be $20,000, for unauthorised copying and use of software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe PhotoShop.
Magna Data is also bound to acquire all the necessary software licences and stop copying or using illegal software in the future, as part of the deal.
The ISP recently made headlines when it was acquired by telco Davnet.
Prestige Colour, a Sydney-based graphic reproduction service, has also agreed to pay undisclosed damages to the BSAA for software copyright infringement.
The BSAA caught both companies from tip-offs it received via its hotline -- 1800 021 143The informers from both cases are currently enjoying the $5000 reward for information.
BSAA chairman Jim Macnamara said the organisation is mounting an aggressive anti-piracy software campaign this year. "These first two cases are just the tip of the iceberg for 1999," he said.