The various rules and regulations regarding software licensing create a myriad of compliance issues which must be addressed by all departments within the University. All members of the university currently should be aware that intellectual property laws extent to the electronic environment. Users should assume that works communicated through the computer network are subject to copyright laws, unless specifically stated otherwise. There are currently over 1,200 member organizations, which SIIA represents against software piracy.
Software piracy is the unauthorized use of software.
Software piracy is illegal and risky, which creates a liability for both an organization and the individual. The following guidelines are recommended by SIIA to be used by departments to help maintain compliance with software licensing agreements. Procedures for acquiring and registering software should be established. When installing software, it is important to always read the license agreement included. Many software manufacturers have distinct policies regarding software licensing.