Software audits initiated by software publishers or representative entities, such as the Business Software Alliance and Software & Information Industry Association, are often resolved by an out-of-court settlement.

Many companies faced with software compliance issues will choose to perform their own audit in advance of a formal audit by the publisher.

Software audits initiated by software publishers or representative entities, such as the Business Software Alliance and Software & Information Industry Association, are often resolved by an out-of-court settlement.

Software auditors such as KPMG, Deloitte and PriceWaterhouseCoopers like to have things their way.

If your company has received a letter from the BSA requesting a software audit, you are probably wondering whether you should cooperate or tell the BSA to pound sand.

Recent trends indicate that software publishers are increasingly initiating direct software audits instead of outsourcing the auditing process to entities such as the BSA.

Audits initiated by the BSA or the SIIA are based on an underlying allegation that the targeted business has used software without a license.

Companies licensing Microsoft software under Enterprise Agreements (EAs) likely have familiarity with the default requirement to true up EA Enterprise Products.

Copyright infringement relating to software licensing is a complex issue.

Adobe license terms often change as each new product is released, which means that the way a customer may have previously been licensing software is no longer valid.

A software audit is a complex, arduous, and time-consuming process for the average company.

Software publishers utilize myriad different license metrics to determine what kind and quantity of particular licenses their customers are required to purchase.

Many individuals and businesses are considering whether to protect their assets through the formation of an LLC or an Asset Protection Trust.

The majority of copyright infringement claims against consumers using copyrighted software are resolved by settlement rather than litigation, for a multitude of reasons.

The software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution-delivery model is becoming more and more widespread.

Following the conclusion of a software audit, Microsoft's standard practice is to require an audited company to purchase licenses associated with calculated "unlicensed use" within a set period of time...

Following the conclusion of a software audit, Microsoft's standard practice is to require an audited company to purchase licenses associated with calculated "unlicensed use" within a set period of time...

No one likes to be audited. In most cases, there is little that a business can do at the outset of an audit to avoid licensing exposure, if that business has historically inadequate software asset management processes.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the "DMCA") can help owners of some intellectual property (e.g., copyrights) remove online infringing content.

I previously presented my thoughts here regarding changes Microsoft made to its Product Terms pertaining to the Self-Hosted Applications benefit under Software Assurance.