Software And Copyright: Practical Pro-Active And Re-Active Considerations For Business Owners

You would be hard-pressed to find a business today that does not depend on software, in one way or another, for business-critical purposes. From common functionality, like word processing and data entry, to highly specialized tasks, like 3D modelling, there is software for nearly any business need. The developers of this software own valuable intellectual property (IP) rights in it and they are increasingly vigilant about enforcing those rights. It is important for businesses to obtain and maintain valid licenses for the software they use in order to avoid liability for copyright infringement. It is equally important to know how to respond when they are accused of using software without a license or in an unlicensed manner.