REPORT anyone using illegal software and you stand to get a reward of up to $50,000 - double the usual $20,000.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a global software industry watchdog, on Friday announced the bigger bounty to encourage more people to report software piracy in the workplace.

The new reward, which is being raised for the first time since the launch of BSA's toll-free anti-piracy hotline in February 2005, applies to qualified information given between now and Jan 31 next year.

'This initiative is aimed at driving home the message to businesses that they must take responsibility for software usage within their organisations and implement systems and policies that ensure the use of licensed software,' said Mr Tarun Sawney, BSA's Director of Anti-Piracy for Asia.

He noted that as many companies are presently into their year-end buying, this would be a good time for them to review their software assets and budget for software licences.

'Many businesses fail to put a priority on managing their software assets. There are also instances where those in managerial and decision making positions knowingly flout the law for short-term financial gain.'

'In doing so they are exposing the whole business and their officers to legal consequences should criminal action be taken,' said Mr Sawney.

Under Singapore's Copyright Act, first-time offenders face up to $20,000 fine or six months jail, or both.

Piracy rate in Singapore stood at 39 per cent in 2006, with losses of US$125 million to the software industry, according to research firm IDC's fourth annual global software piracy study.

'Software piracy, if allowed to continue, can have severe repercussions on the economy. It compromises the growth of the software industry and dampens innovation and progress of the IT sector. Everyone benefits when software piracy is reduced,' said Mr Sawney.

Since the launch of BSA's anti-piracy hotline, more than 1,000 calls have been received, and over 390 reports submitted over the website.

This year, over 150 calls and 90 web reports have been made so far. The reports led to three raids that were carried out by the Singapore Police against businesses over the last two years.

A settlement had been reached in one case while another is being dealt with by the courts. A third is pending investigations.

For the settled case, a reward of S$10,000 was given to an informant.