So What is Software Licensing, Anyway?

So I started a new job working in software licensing - I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Little did I know, that this is something we are all involved in, and it pays to know a little more about what it's all about. Sure, it's not quite science, but unless you are careful you can end up getting into trouble. So here it is - what software licensing is all about!

People often seem to think that software is a commodity – something you buy from a retailer which you then own and use. But in actual fact, with software, you license, not purchase it. Why? Well, when you license the software, the primary value comes not from an object (such as the disk it is stored on) but instead from the knowledge of the people who wrote the software – the ‘cleverness’, if you like. You can’t own that knowledge, you merely acquire a limited right to use it. Put simply, software is intellectual property.

It’s tricky to define or identify the value of intellectual property and thus, such things are copyrighted (copyrights, trademarks, and patents). This allows whoever owns the material, in this case, software to define who can access and use their property, protecting it from unauthorized use. This is in an attempt to define the value of the software.

In this line, a software license provides the legal right to install, use, access, display, run, or otherwise interact with a software program. This doesn’t always include right to media, manuals, or support. Remember checking the ‘I agree’ box whenever you install something? That is you agreeing to the terms of use of the software.

If you breech these terms and conditions, you are in violation of the law and can run into trouble.

So yea, it's important. I may start blogging about more technologically oriented things from now on... maybe!