District officials deny any wrongdoing, but say they sought the proposed settlement to conclude the matter quickly. Computer experts say district staffers are likely to encounter a host of troubles in the process. Inexpensive software made available to schools frequently lacks serial numbers, making it impossible to distinguish between legal and illegal copies, they say. Unauthorized software also can slip onto campuses that have so-called site licenses, which allow schools to install the same software on several computers, experts say. It's got a lot of twists and turns.
Experts say software piracy is pervasive in business and government offices, as well among friends.
Part of the problem, they say, stems from confusion over what can be legally copied. But if professional people use unlicensed software, they are just silly. They need the manuals and technical support you get if you purchase the license. Principals at several Los Angeles city schools said they regularly review the district's policy against software piracy with their employees, and include the topic in handbooks they hand out at the beginning of each school year.