Negotiating Software License Transactions and Disputes with Microsoft

CAUCUS IT Procurement Summit November 2019, Speaker Robert J. Scott, Scott & Scott, LLP

Software licensing options for large enterprises have evolved substantially over the past several years. Businesses today have more options and flexibility to meet their software needs. However, with that flexibility often comes complex software asset management (SAM) obligations. Licensing models that were previously unavailable absent extensive negotiations are now regularly offered. IT teams must equip themselves to recognize the unique challenges involved with the various options in order to avoid unnecessary licensing exposure. This presentation will discuss traditional and newly developed Microsoft licensing models, principal concerns about current licensing models, types of license agreements, and primary causes of exposure in enterprise-level Microsoft software audits.