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On Thu, Mar 16, 2006 at 08:13:54PM +0000, Adrian Midgley wrote: > On Fri, 2006-03-10 at 14:31 +0000, Robin Cornelius wrote: > > > The other issue i think is important to get across but will probably > > go over the heads or just bore the masses are licences. It is too > > easy for companies to just get an office CD and install it on > > multiple machines, this is a breach of the licence and is also a > > computer that *could* be running open office etc instead. I think > > that a point can be made that you can do a) pay a lot of money (for > > proprity sw)licences, b) break the law c) use OSS solutions so that > > you are all licence complient and can do the same work. > > Turn it round. > > > Compliance is an issue, a problem, a worry, a risk, a cost of > business. > Yes. Staff can install (illegal) multiple copies of Office but then - No critical updates (and yes updating MS Office is on a different site to updating windows) - If a member of staff reports you to the Business Software Alliance for a reward http://www.bsa.org/uk/report/ then you have problems In fact it is worthwhile having a look at the link http://tinyurl.com/fl37a which is a pdf file from the bsa site that lists where directors are liable, if their staff do not follow the license. Examples - Check the software is genuine - Check that you are following the license (ie not using discounted home software in an office environment) - Create a software register - Audit all computers on a regular basis - Amend employment contracts Lots of talk of unlimited fines and jail times. > The fewer closed source programs you run, the less of all of the above > you have to deal with in your business. > > So FLOSS lets you spend you time doing business instead of IT > administration . > .. and auditing licenses. >
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