FAQ
-
Your best bet is to ask the copyright holder for written permission to copy the software.
top -
Some software publishers allow this type of use; others do not. Read the license agreement to determine what type you have.
top -
Usually not, as most of the UA's site licenses are restricted to department, college or student owned computers, unless otherwise directed, i.e.: The Microsoft Campus Agreement.
top -
Not necessarily. Each site license states who may use the software, where and for what purpose. Within those restrictions, a site license allows unlimited use. Most of the UA's site licenses permit the University of Arizona to install the software on their department of college computers; a few include home computers and student-owned computers as well.
top -
No. There's a widespread myth that you can use software for 24 hours without penalty. The truth is the software is illegal the moment you install it. Arrange to use your co-workers' computers instead. Or ask the software publisher for a trial version.
top -
No. And there's little chance that the "fair use" argument can be applied to software the way it can to printed materials - it's generally impossible to install and use only a small piece of a software product.
top -
Yes, if it was obtained through your Department or College. If your computer came from another source, review the licenses and documentation to verify the software's legitimacy.
top -
No. Unless otherwise stated in the software license, the only copy you can legally make is one archival backup of the original installation disks or CD, to be used only if the originals fail.
top -
If those extra copies are used on College-owned computers, the harm could be great. Software publishers take piracy very seriously. The College and the individuals involved could be held liable for large monetary damages. In the larger picture, copying is unethical and cheats the publisher and everyone who uses the software. It makes software more costly and denies the publisher the sales it needs to improve software and finance new projects.
top -
It happens more often than you might think, from honest employees and students, routine software audits, technology support professionals, network administrators, software publishers and piracy watchdog groups. Your work computer is university property. So is your connection to the Internet via the campus network. The University of Arizona is committed to making sure that its computers run legally licensed software, and that its network is not supporting software piracy in any form.
top -
If illegal software is reported to a software publisher or piracy watchdog group, legal action can be brought against the University of Arizona and the individuals involved. At minimum, the university will have to prove that it has resolved the problem, which typically requires an intensive software audit within a very short timeframe. Other sanctions can include large monetary damages, or exclusion from discount pricing and volume-licensing programs, such as the Microsoft Office license agreement.
top -
It is the unauthorized duplication, distribution or use of computer software -- for example, making more copies of software than the license allows, or installing software licensed for one computer onto multiple computers or a server. Copying software is an act of copyright infringement, and is subject to civil and criminal penalties. It is illegal whether one uses pirated software oneself, gives it away, or sells it. And aiding piracy by providing unauthorized access to software or serial numbers to registered software is illegal.
top