Organizations concerned about software audits may want to consider use of a license manager. License managers control software by reading/decoding an encrypted license file prior to execution of a main program. License managers do not protect software from copying, but effectively disable it unless running in compliance with license terms (which normally include, a specific network, a specific number of copies, or perhaps a specific machine or user).
There are currently two basic variations of license managers, embedded - used by software vendors, and wrappers - used by system administrators. Embedded license managers are an integral part of a software application, are placed there by the software vendor, and are very difficult to circumvent. License wrappers can be implemented by the system administrator, but are less tamper-proof and can be broken by moderately sophisticated computer users.
While certainly not a bar to infringement, an organization using such tools would have a good argument against willfulness, a strong mitigator against large damage awards, and a clear path to holding an employee accountable for unauthorized software use (considering the affirmative steps that must be taken to side-step these mechanisms).
John Carpenter
Electrical/Software Engineer
Registered Patent Agent
http://www.netkeeper.com/jcarpen4/resume.htm
Received on Tue Apr 02 1996 - 18:11:45 GMT
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