EDS, the computer giant founded by billionaire Mr Ross Perot, has apologised for pirating the software of a small Dublin software company. The larger firm has also agreed to pay "a substantial five-figure sum", believed to be in the region of £20,000.

E-Smart, based in Dublin, said it had sent a copy of its training CD-ROM The Joy of Customer Care to EDS in good faith.

"Initially they were very positive and indicated that they would be buying the product," said ESmart's managing director, Mr Ciaran Dyer. "We were astonished when they subsequently said they would not buy the product at any price."

But when E-Smart asked for its preview copies to be returned, the CD-ROM copy EDS sent back was not the original. The packaging and E-Smart branding was also copied, including the name The Joy of Customer Care, but the returned CD-ROM was in a different plastic container.

E-Smart took a case to the London High Court.