Legal Software Ownership information from Microsoft Small Business
For many small-business owners and managers, purchasing software can be confusing, partly because of issues surrounding legal software ownership. One reason is that when you acquire software, you don't actually buy the program, and you do not own it. Instead, you receive a copy of the software license, which gives you the right to use the program.
Because software is licensed, you have an obligation to make sure that your business practices legal software ownership and runs legal and genuine software. But counterfeit software can be very hard to recognize. Unlike illegally manufactured or copied software, applications from reputable resellers will always contain necessary components, such as key codes.
Every Microsoft software installation requires a license. Situations where software use does not comply with legal requirements include:
| • | Installing more copies of software than you paid to license |
| • | Informal disk-swapping among employees and colleagues |
| • | Use of counterfeit software |
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