A software and Internet industry group that enforces license and copyright restrictions is offering a grace period for companies in seven cities to legalize their operations by deleting pirated software, no questions asked.

(Photo courtesy of BSA)

January is the grace period for firms in Billings, Bozeman and Missoula, Mont.; Houston; Indianapolis; Nashville; Orlando; Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; and San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, Calif.

"If they get legal, we will forego any legal action," says Bob Kruger, vice president for enforcement at the Business Software Alliance. The BSA extracted settlements of $11 million from companies over claims of copyright infringement last year. For more information on the grace period see www.bsa.org.