Clamp down on dodgy licenses

Microsoft is clamping down on rogue traders as dodgy licenses become rife in the IT industry.

Managing licenses and ensuring they are legitimate and the company owns the relevant rights is a tricky area for many businesses. Inatech has provided a short guide to ensuring you and your business is on the right path to success, security and avoiding massive penalties.

Integrating multiple technologies; improving efficiency; or reducing costs – There are a number of elements to the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that will ensure you maximise the productivity from your chosen systems. Is your company under using the technology, or are you breaching your agreement?

1. Supplier technology licenses are not entirely risk free. There is a risk of infringement, check how your processes interact with licenced technology

2. Some open source software licences impose contractual obligations, especially if you are using them in connection with other products – some open source licences are incompatible

3. Professional legal teams have not assessed some licenses. It is important to ensure the company declaring ownership of the product is, in fact, the valid owner.

4. Expanding into new international regions may mean countries have different policies surrounding the ownership of a technology.

5. The product you are using may have a joint ownership. This may be problematic if there is not an agreement with a co-owner for you to use the technology.

As the recession bites suppliers are more likely to challenge existing customers license agreements for much needed income. Further, if you are under-using a license you need to renegotiate or change how you are using the product. Otherwise you are pouring money into an endless pit.