[jla]

We pass our old computers down. The guys in engineering need a new PC, so they get one and we pass theirs on to somebody doing clerical work. Well, if you don't wipe the hard drive on that PC, that's a violation. Even if they can tell a piece of software isn't being used, it's still a violation if it's on that hard drive.

Anyone explain to me why this is? It makes no sense at all to me, and I can't understand how it can be illegal if the computers never leave the site. And even if they did, so what?

[Bush2000]

Anyone explain to me why this is? It makes no sense at all to me, and I can't understand how it can be illegal if the computers never leave the site. And even if they did, so what?

If you have commercial software on a computer, you need a corresponding license. Ball didn't have the licenses. We don't know how the software got there. And since they couldn't explain why they didn't have a license, they had to settle with the BSA.

[justlurking]

Anyone explain to me why this is? It makes no sense at all to me, and I can't understand how it can be illegal if the computers never leave the site. And even if they did, so what?

My interpretation is that some software installed on these older computers was re-installed on the newer computers, without deleting it from the older computers.

It wouldn't be software like the OS or the Office suite, as that would be bundled with the computer by the OEM. I figure it is something used by the engineers and not the clerical staff, like Visual Studio.

[Golden Eagle]

Anyone explain to me why this is? It makes no sense at all to me, and I can't understand how it can be illegal if the computers never leave the site. And even if they did, so what?

As I understand it, that was his excuse for not having any proof that the copies of Windows he had weren't pirated.

Being someone who manages this type of infrastructure, I'd say that was a weak excuse. It's known as the "domino effect" and actually should have little effect on being able to prove you own the software, that is unless you routinely through your licenses into the trash instead of understanding they may have value.