Who Owns Your Software

Who Owns Your Software

Recently, I saw someone install a computer program on multiple computers. He believes that since he bought a product, he owns it and can install it as often as he chooses. I'm afraid the evidence does not always support that claim.

Let's see what Microsoft has to say on this matter. In this article, I am reviewing the document in a Windows XP Professional workstation at c:\

Windows\System32\Eula.txt.

As end users, we do not own the product. We merely purchase a license. Paragraph 19 of this document tells us: The Product is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and treaties. Microsoft or its suppliers own the title, copyright, and other intellectual property rights in the Product. The Product is licensed, not sold.

With a license, we purchase permission to use a particular application. We may use it repeatedly. We may not reverse engineer it, decompile it or disassemble it. We use it as is. We are, however, eligible for free support and product updates.

Microsoft also tells us we can use it on only one computer. Paragraph 1 of the same document tells us: You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Product on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device

("Workstation Computer"). The Product may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

This is where the problem resides. For those who own a license (not the product), such as Office 2000, and install it on multiple computers, they are violating the license. If someone installs a product from one CD on two computers, then one of those computers would have an illegal copy. Microsoft's solution to this predicament is either a) buy an additional license or b) buy an additional package with the CD and license.

For those with small and home offices, I encourage the owners to keep all software licensing and media. This includes any CDs that contain "System Restore" data, CD burning applications, modem drivers, network drivers, video drivers and anything with the Microsoft logo. Also keep any Certificates of Authenticity and license key codes. Some CD cases have a key sticker on the back. Keep all this material together and in a safe place.

If you buy and download any software online, print the confirmation page and keep it with the media. You may not have the software but at least you can prove ownership if you have to redownload and reinstall an application.

If you've registered any software, document the registration code. In QuickBooks, you can choose Help > About and view the registration information. I copied this information to the clipboard by pressing (Alt-PrtScr), pasted it into Word and printed it for my records.

Following software licensing guidelines is not an easy task. It is, however, something we have to do. By following these guidelines, you can prove the software you're running has the licensing you've purchased.