Two US firms have agreed to hand over significant piles of cash to the Business Software Alliance (BSA) to settle claims they had run unlicensed software on their computers.

Denver-based TruStile Doors will settle BSA claims that it had unlicensed copies of Microsoft and Symantec software on its PCs by shelling out a hefty $92,500.

TruStile said it didn't want to be hit with any further claims and said it had now developed a software license management program to prevent the installation of unlicensed software on its machines.

The BSA said in a statement yesterday that Minneapolis-based dental services provider Sentage will pony up $80,000 to settle claims that it had been running dodgy copies of Microsoft and Symantec apps.

The BSA said it will continue to hunt down businesses in the US that illegally install unlicensed software, saying it will offer $1m to anyone willing to name and shame individual firms guilty of such action.

BSA legal affairs director Jenny Blank said: "BSA hopes this settlement will continue to remind businesses of all industries about the high price of infringement and the importance of software compliance."

At the same time, the pirate-botherers also accepted that the level of unlicensed software around the globe remained stubbornly stuck at around 35 per cent, which it claimed has cost vendors $40bn. ®

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