The Business Software Alliance in the Republic has received fewer leads on software piracy and pursued fewer legal actions this year than partner organisations in 13 other European countries, a new survey has found.
The European-wide survey by the Business Software Alliance found its operation in the Republic received only 10 leads on end users and resellers of pirate software during the first nine months of this year.
The number of legal actions pursued from information received by the alliance during this period was just three in the Republic. The total number of calls received by the organisation was 570.
These figures compare unfavourably with other European organisations. The Business Software Alliance in Germany received almost 400 leads, resulting in 194 legal actions. The alliance in Spain received 263 leads, resulting in 227 legal actions.
Mr Conor Molloy, a spokesman for the Business Software Alliance in the Republic, said the figures reflected cultural differences in the Republic, where people did not often pass on information about suspects.
He said this could be due to the small population in Ireland where "everybody knows everybody". Mr Molloy also cited the lack of legal protection in current legislation for employees who gave evidence against employers using illegal software.
However, he said this would change in the new Copyright Act 2000, which is due to pass into law before the New Year. "Employees can be protected under the new Act, which clarifies the position in terms of software piracy," he added.
Under the terms of the new Act, software pirates face up to five years in jail, a £100,000 (€127,065) fine and substantial damages for using the illegal software.
Mr Molloy said awareness of software piracy was growing in the Republic. He said the Business Software Alliance's one-month amnesty running this month was working well. During the first three days of the amnesty, the alliance received 60-70 calls, he added.
The European survey shows the Alliance's efforts against software theft resulted in 9,516 leads resulting in 8,156 legal actions. Some 121,943 CDs and floppy disks were seized as a result of its campaign.
