THE Software Alliance (BSA), headquartered in Washington, DC, has called on Malaysian authorities to act on software copyright infringements as a matter of public safety following the discovery of illegal software used in the design and engineering of a railway project in this country.
This comes in the wake of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living’s (KPDN) recent announcement that it had raided 15 companies in the first half of 2023 and found a total of 152 unlicensed software units with a combined infringement value of more than RM3.7 million.
Among those organisations found to be in violation of copyright laws were engineering and design firms engaged in critical infrastructure projects, real estate, and construction.
BSA senior director Tarun Sawney said the safety and integrity of infrastructure projects are at stake when businesses use unlicensed software.
“It’s critical that business leaders in engineering firms ensure that their software is properly licensed, and therefore receiving security updates,” he said in a statement.
“At the same time, we urge the government to continue, and even increase, enforcement efforts against engineering firms using unlicensed software. Malaysian taxpayers deserve the use of legal, licensed software in public works projects that serve society.”
BSA has expressed hope that it will continue to work with the ministry in 2024 to bring more errant companies to justice and is targeting approximately 50 other engineering and design companies suspected of using unlicensed software.
The organisation is also setting up a helpline for Malaysian engineering and design firms to educate them on the proper processes required to manage software assets and ensure legal compliance.
BSA’s call comes as several authorities across Southeast Asia discovered a significant number of cases of unlicensed software by engineering and design firms engaged in critical infrastructure projects in recent months.
Cases such as these are red flags for government officials and business leaders in the public works and infrastructure sectors.
BSA executives have noted the ongoing and increasing risk of unlicensed software usage in major national infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia.
Additionally, the engineering firms found using unlicensed design software were well-established, profitable firms with the capacity and resources to use properly licensed, secure, and updated software, the organisation stressed.
“These firms have won government contracts, which are funded by taxpayer money. Yet the firms fail to take care of the basics, such as using legal, licensed software.
“We believe there are many more examples of engineering firms that are intentionally using unlicensed software,” said Sawney.
Outdated software licence ploy
The raids by KPDN revealed that an engineering consultancy firm involved in vital public works projects such as national rail construction was using illegal software, BSA said in its statement yesterday.
The offender reported an annual revenue of nearly US$1.5 million and has assets in excess of US$1.7 million, it added.
It said during the investigations authorities also discovered that some companies used deceptive practices where end-users presented outdated software licences to falsely imply compliance, only to be exposed during thorough checks.
Some programmes that were being used without official licence include AutoCAD, 3ds Max, and V-Ray.
“Engineering firms working on national infrastructure projects receive substantial budgets from national governments, and therefore should invest in licensed and secure design software,” Sawney said.
“Taxpayers have a right to be assured that public works are designed using proper software, ensuring their safety and reliability.”
With operations in 30 countries, BSA touts itself internationally as the leading advocate for the global software industry.
It says its members are among the world’s most innovative companies, creating software solutions that help businesses modernise and grow.
It stressed that it collaborates with governments across the globe to ensure proper software compliance, emphasising the importance of licensed and secure design software in public works projects.
Last year, BSA launched an educational campaign, publishing a survival guide that outlined emerging cyber risks and provided advice to business leaders on enhancing cybersecurity. – The Vibes, December 8, 2023.
