ITI Techmedia announced yesterday it has reached a licensing arrangement with Metaforic, a Glasgow-based firm that supplies products to counter computer hacking.

ITI Techmedia announced yesterday it has reached a licensing arrangement with Metaforic, a Glasgow-based firm that supplies products to counter computer hacking.

Under terms of the deal, ITI will provide technology from its online games development R&D programme in return for an unspecified fee when Metaforic products are put on the market.

Metaforic, a new company that provides anti-tamper solutions, enters the software protection market with the introduction of its unique Metafortress anti-hack system.

The company has deployed ITI Techmedia's technology platform to offer high-performance security solutions, designed to defend the software industry from attacks, which currently cost companies around $40bn (£21bn) every year.

Metaforic was founded by three software start-up veterans - chief executive Andrew McLennan, chief operating officer Linda MacKellar and chief technology officer Neil Stewart. The company provides anti-hacking products to protect software applications, digital rights management systems, client applications and licence management systems.

ITI Techmedia, which is also based in Glasgow, said it is investing £5.35m in its R&D programme.

ITI Techmedia, funded by the Scottish Government, is one of the three Scotland-based Intermediary Technology Institutes which make up ITI Scotland.