A great example of a software asset management policy

« $1 million reward…report the sale of illegal software over the Internet! | Home | Innovative use of licensing for SaaS companies »

A great example of a software asset management policy

By Jon Gillespie-Brown | May 21, 2008

I came across this excellent page for students at Cornell, it’s a clear and effective page about how to correctly use, manage, monitor and control the school’s software assets.

The reason I post this is because it could also be the basis of useful advice for your clients to help them ensure they are compliant and up to date with their software licensing.

—————————

Software Piracy: What You Should Know

Take a look at the page here: http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/copyright/software.html

Whether you call it borrowing, copying, sharing or “fair use,” software piracy is illegal and puts Cornell’s students, faculty and staff, as well as the university itself, at risk for legal action.

What is software piracy, exactly?
What’s the harm in making a few extra copies?
How will Cornell ever find out that I have illegal software?
What happens when illegal software is found?
My co-workers are copying software, but I don’t want to be a tattletale and I’m worried about losing my job. What should I do?
Our software budget wasn’t big enough this year. Can we make copies for now and buy enough for everyone next year?
I just started this job, and I’m using the former employee’s computer. How do I know if my software is legal?
I’m the new technology support provider for 50 people, and the record-keeping here has been pretty bad. How should I go about verifying all this software?
When my computer was delivered, it had software installed on it. Is this software already legally licensed?
I require my students to use certain software for assignments. Since I’m using it for educational purposes, I can give them copies, right?
I’m trying to decide which software package to buy. Can I install my co-workers’ software just to try it, if I remove it right after I’m done?
If Cornell has a site license for something, does that mean we can copy it to as many computers as we want?
Can I put Cornell site-licensed software on a computer Cornell doesn’t own — for example, my home computer?
I work at home sometimes. Can I copy software from my work computer to my laptop or home computer, since I won’t be using both at the same time?
A friend recommended some great software, but the publisher is out of business. Would it be OK to get a copy from my friend?
We have lots of old software sitting around. Can we give it away to schools or charities? Or sell it?
I’m leaving Cornell. Do I have to get rid of any software on my home computer?
I still have some questions. Who can I ask?