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Software Compliance Audits on demand are
nothing new, they have been around since 1991 when it comes to PC
software installations.
The audit is initiated by either the
software vendor in its own right through their legal counsel, or a
member organization such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA),
Software Information and Industry Association (SIIA) or the Federation
Against Software Theft (FAST).
Stating the
obvious, most of these software audits are all about generating
additional license revenue for the software vendor and/or “naming and
shaming the victims”!
What
PCProfile finds as astounding, is that since 1991 nothing has been done
by the software OEM vendors to make it easier for the organization that
has been targeted for a software audit, in terms of “accurately
identifying” what has been installed by the software vendors with their
applications.
Why Succumb to an Audit?
Why should you succumb to an audit if the
outcome is
“lengthy and confrontational discussions with
vendors due to the complexity and misunderstanding around product use
rights and license metrics”
that are no fault of your own. The
issues cited are predominantly due to lack of data from the software
vendor in the first place, coupled with complex, hard to understand
license conditions!
It’s
manifestly unreasonable to expect an organization to come up with a list
of software applications, “on demand”, based on what has been installed
at the “audit effective date” which will typically be a date selected,
in arrears, by the vendor.
It’s
manifestly unreasonable to expect an organization to validate that list
of applications, if there has never been any declaration from the date
of installation about what has been installed, what files are associated
with what applications, and what the license terms and conditions are
relative to the installation.
It’s
absolutely impossible to verify what fonts (that are also subject to
licensing) have been installed, when they were installed and what fonts
are associated with which application and what the license terms and
conditions are for these fonts, relative to the applications installed
Why don't
software packs that are being installed, come with a list of all files,
showing which files are associated or bound to the application? It's not
that hard, or is there some ulterior motive by the software industry?
How can
you make the Software Vendors Accountable?
Read more at;
It's
Manifestly Unreasonable
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