077.5 Copying of Computer Software

077.5 Copying of Computer Software

A. Background

During the past several years many personal computers have been installed on the Furman campus, and it is clear that many more of these devices will be installed in the future. As these machines have been acquired, various software products have also been purchased for use on these machines. Reproducing such computer software without authorization violates the U.S. Copyright Law. It is a federal offense. The money paid for a software product represents a license fee for the use of one copy. It does not represent an authorization to copy. Civil damages for unauthorized software copying can be as much as $50,000 or more and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. Bills have been introduced in Congress to strengthen the law and increase penalties.

B. Policy

No Furman employee or student may make copies of any purchased software except as allowed in the contract under which the software product has been acquired.

C. Guidelines

1. Furman licenses the use of its computer software from a variety of outside companies. Furman does not own this software or its related documentation and, unless authorized by the software developer, does not have the right to reproduce it.

2. With regard to use on multiple machines, Furman employees and students shall use the software only in accordance with the license agreement.

3. According to the U.S. Copyright Law, illegal reproduction of software can be subject to civil damages of as much as $50,000 or more and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.

4. Computing and Information Services staff will not install software on any computer, or copy any software from an old computer or disk to a replacement computer or disk, without tangible proof of right to use the software on that computer.

5. All related questions should be directed to the Director of Computing and Information Services.

...........................