As an application service provider (ASP) mentioned in your September feature "Stung!", BIW Technologies agrees with Peter Goodwin that companies should take legal issues relating to e-collaboration seriously.

But we shouldn't let them hamper innovation and inhibit the development of our industry. The technology is developing faster than the law can change, and potential users need to relax their grip on this particular safety blanket.

Yes, by all means look at legal safeguards, but many risks can be mitigated by considering other factors. For example: look at the integrity of the software and hardware; assess the technical support; ensure the ASP's managers have a track record in industry-class IT solutions.

In the meantime, let's put Mr Goodwin's specific issues in context.

To date, with over 400 projects managed using BIW Information Channel, we have had no legal disputes relating to data being lost or corrupted. A robust and reliable technology infrastructure, underpinned by comprehensive service level agreements, helps provide reassurance.

There have been no disputes about the legal status of electronic documents on our system (we currently store well over 100,000 drawings and other documents). A powerful, tamper-proof version control system inspires confidence and trust between team members.

Being one of the first to offer web-based collaboration services in the UK, BIW worked closely with lawyers (including Masons), clients and other project team members to ensure that all their concerns were addressed. As a result, our software licences and service level agreements are, I believe, models of their kind.

With Sir Michael Latham as a member of our board, BIW is committed to supporting collaborative working processes and the Egan agenda. Surely transparency and a culture of mutual trust in the project team are preferable to a mesh of expensive legal safeguards?

Colin Smith
Chief Executive,
BIW Technologies