Don't Load That Software Just Yet...

by Skeleton Star

Are you currently using ONLY licensed software? Only licensed or your company's proprietary software can be used in the workplace, and this also applies at home assuming your company is okay with their proprietary software being used at home.

Software is protected by federal copyright law, which says that you can't make additional copies without the permission of the copyright holder. Each software program should be used in accordance with its specific license agreement. The law says that anyone who purchases a copy of software has the right to load that copy onto a single computer and to make another copy "for archival purposes only". When upgrading software, both the original and upgrade is considered one licensed product. It is illegal to use the original software on more than one computer or to make or distribute copies unless specific permission has been obtained from the copyright owner / software company.

Ignorance is no excuse. The laws, ethics, and company policies that govern us dictates that it is every employee's responsibility to become familiar with all restrictions on use or duplication of software so that a licensing agreement is not violated or compromised, and to recognize that any such violation could cause the initiation of legal action against the company and the responsible employee.

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Audit Guidelines - IT Be on Top of Your Game! Do NOT Be the Victim of a Poor Audit...

Electronic Mail Guidelines - the Workplace Respect the Business Purpose for Which Computers and Access to Communication Network(s) Has Been Granted...

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So...

Don't load that software until you know it is legal.

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Skeleton Star is a business whose tagline is: "Providing Business Essentials... Making B2B Easy." Skeleton Star owns and operates several web sites of which the following is key to new entrepreneurs: Business Practices.

The author of this article, at one time, was an IT Staff Auditor for a Fortune 10 company, and later managed the global Information Security Program for the Information Technology organization that supported a Fortune 10 company. Reprinting and republishing of this article is granted only with the above credit included. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright or other rights.

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Internet Usage Guidelines - the Workplace Equipment and Information in Any Form is Considered an Asset of the Company and Thus Must be Properly Used and Adequately Protected...