The Malaysian government has been urged by The Software Alliance (BSA) to take action in safeguarding software copyright, following the detection of unauthorised software usage in the design and engineering phases of a railway project in Malaysia.
The Edge Malaysia reports that the alliance said during the first half of 2023, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living conducted raids on 15 companies. The inspections revealed a total of 152 unlicensed software units, amounting to a combined infringement value exceeding RM3.7 million.
BSA revealed that numerous authorities in Southeast Asia have uncovered instances of unlicensed software usage by engineering and design firms involved in critical infrastructure projects in recent months.
To address the issue, BSA is in the process of establishing a helpline for Malaysian engineering and design firms, aiming to educate them on the proper procedures for managing software assets and ensuring legal compliance.
Tarun Sawney, BSA’s senior director, stressed the importance for business leaders in engineering firms to ensure the proper licensing of their software, guaranteeing receipt of security updates.
Simultaneously, BSA urged the government to sustain and potentially escalate enforcement actions against engineering firms employing unlicensed software.
Sawney stated that Malaysian taxpayers deserve the use of legal, licensed software in public projects contributing to society.
BSA revealed that numerous authorities in Southeast Asia have uncovered numerous instances of unlicensed software usage by engineering and design firms involved in critical infrastructure projects in recent months.
Sawney expressed concern that these firms, which secure government contracts funded by taxpayers, neglect essential practices such as using legal, licensed software.
He highlighted that engineering firms working on national infrastructure projects receive significant budgets from national governments and should, therefore, invest in licensed and secure design software.
Sawney concluded by stressing the right of taxpayers to be assured that public works are designed using appropriate software, ensuring safety and reliability.
