subject: Avoid The Jail-time That Goes With Bootlegged Or Pirated Software [print this page] The Business Software Alliance reports that 22% of software in North America is unlicensed.
Software licensing issues can prove perplexing. OEM licenses, often purchased with new computers, cannot legally be moved to another PC. This is true for many copies of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows. Other applications, such as free versions of many popular antivirus and antispyware programs, and Microsoft Office Student & Teacher Edition cannot be legally installed in any business.
It's estimated that software piracy costs the industry more than $11 billion annually. As a result, software vendors are very aggressive in pursuing small businesses that deploy and use improperly and illegally licensed software.
Technology partners such as Computer Troubleshooters can help protect businesses from disruptive investigations, the use of illegal software and resulting fines. With a professional technology consultant's assistance, small businesses can receive expert help ensuring they properly license software for each and every PC, remain protected from audits with proper documentation and avoid the following common failures:
- Many businesses dont realize that they do not "own" software. Instead, businesses typically own a license to use that software on a specific number of PCs.
- Some businesses use "borrowed" software obtained from an employee's home computer or friend.
- Many software programs report their usage back to the manufacturer via the Internet. Microsoft and Intuit (Quicken, QuickBooks, etc.) products especially report their use and require activation to continue working properly. The receipt of audit notifications or breach-of-license letters is becoming an increasingly common occurrence as a result.
- Murphy's Law plays a role; unlicensed or under-licensed software usually causes problems at the worst possible time, and they usually compound problems when a technician is attempting to rebuild a mission-critical PC.
Computer Troubleshooters recommends taking these steps to combat illegal software:
- Purchase software only from reputable technology partners
- Store product keys, certificates of authenticity, licenses and original installation media in a single, easily accessible location
- Read license agreements carefully when installing software and ensure your organizations intended use meets the publisher's requirements
