An recent study conducted by the International Planning and Research Corporation has found that U.S. software piracy rate is 23 percent. Software Piracy has serious economic effects, including lost wages, lost jobs, and lost tax revenue. Taking that in mind, Business Software Alliance (BSA), has released a list of 10 steps that small business owners and managers can take to avoid the legal and financial risks of using unlicensed software. It is an adaptation of polices and procedures from the BSA Guide to Software Management.
- Be a responsible software user. Develop a company policy on software usage and have employees sign it annually.
- Compare the number of software installations to the number of licenses. Obtain any licenses needed for compliance.
- Centralize software purchases. Funnel purchases through a designated internal authority such as a purchasing department.
- Ask that employees submit written requests for new software and see that the software manager signs and authorizes these requests.
- Buy from authorized dealers, or through reputable application service providers (ASPs).
- Obtain original materials, such as manuals, registration cards, license agreements and receipts with each purchase and keep them in a centralized file or location.
- Have a clear policy on Internet usage, including the uploading and downloading of software, and enforce it.
- Establish a regularly scheduled audit of the companys software assets. Know what programs reside on your computers and network at all times.
- Visit www.bsaaudit.com for free tools and resources, including the BSA Guide to Software Management and free software audit tools that will enable you to audit the software on your computer network to determine whether or not it is licensed.
- Report software piracy, by calling 1-888-NO PIRACY or accessing the online reporting form at www.bsa.org/usa
2004-05-21
Em Foco – Empresa