Anti-piracy lobby group the BSA has issued proceedings in the
High Court of Northern Ireland. Kelman has two weeks in which to
indicate whether or not it will contest the case. Kelman did not
respond to requests for comment.
The case is being taken in the name of some of the world's
biggest software companies: Microsoft, Adobe, Autodesk and
Symantec. Kelman is accused of copyright infringement in allegedly
using products from those companies without proper licences.
“In cases where we have reasonable evidence that copyright has
been infringed we will take action to protect the rights of our
members," said Sarah Coombes, director of legal affairs for Europe
at the BSA. "They make considerable financial investments in
developing, distributing and supporting their software and the cost
of the license reflects this."
"While the BSA and its members are happy to engage with
companies who have a genuine wish to rectify any software licensing
problems, we are fully prepared to take legal action against those
who flout the law.”
Kelman is a supplier to the electricity generation industry and
the railway industry. It has offices in the US, Canada, Russia,
Ukraine, Germany, Denmark, China, South Africa, India, Japan,
Singapore, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile and Brazil.
The BSA said that 27% of UK business software is used without a
licence, and that it was prepared to pursue companies that did not
have the correct licences for software.
