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24FASTAPRIL 2013ActingFAST onIP protection:Alex Hilton appointed Chief Executiveof Federation Against Software TheftIn February, the Federation Against Software Theft’s (FAST)board of directors announced the appointment of Alex Hiltonas its new Chief Executive. Alex is well known in the softwareindustry and has been working with FAST since 2009 whenhe joined as a Non-Exec Director.He has over 25 years’experience in the IT sector. Here, Lawyer Monthly catches upwith Alex to see how he settling into his new role, discuss thechallenges facing the IP arena at the moment and to find outwhat he hopes to achieve during his time in this position.What are the key issues you hope toaddress during your time as ChiefExecutive of FAST?Amongst the many priorities that we faceis the one of a continually converging ITmarket. As consumers of IT we are moreinformed, sophisticated and educatedthan ever so procurement is becomingcommoditised and IT is increasinglydelivered as a service just like otherutilities. We need to support and informour members and customers to ensureIntellectual Property remains valued inthe future and not undermined by thischange.A further development has come throughthe internet, which has changed thelandscape for software developersdramatically. Although peer-2-peersharing remains a bugbear for theindustry, cloud computing is helping tochange software delivery models, verymuch for the better. By deliveringsoftware as a service (SaaS), developershave found new ways to monitor andmanage the deployment of theirsoftware, however must not abdicateresponsibility for their legal softwarelicensing.It has been said that your appointmentshows FAST’s renewed focus onIntellectual Property protection. How is thisso?Intellectual property protection hasalways been one of FAST’s core tenetsand this has not changed since theorganisation was established over 30years ago. I have many years ofwww.lawyer-monthly.com