24Mar
Identifying and Understanding Microsoft License Verification Audits
Microsoft, like other software publishers, routinely audits customers to help ensure that it is protecting the value of its intellectual property. Microsoft verifies its customers’ compliance using several methods. 1. Microsoft License Verification (also, Software...
14Mar
Be Wary of Changes in New SPLA Contracts
Companies that have long relationships with Microsoft know that the company’s form licensing agreements have steadily evolved over time, and typically for the worse. If software licensing can be said to have any “natural laws,”...
29Feb
How to Avoid Compliance Gaps with Autodesk Downgrade Rights
Autodesk, like many other software publishers, are now offering subscription based licenses instead of perpetual licenses. Customers tend to find the flexibility of subscription-based licensing appealing because those licenses allow for growth and changing work...
24Feb
Beware Audit Terms in Microsoft’s New MPSA
Microsoft is in the process of transitioning many of its volume-licensing customers from the Select Plus Agreement to the new Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA). (More information on the transition framework is available here.)...
24Feb
Microsoft Updates Volume Licensing Use Rights Documents
In the past, business consumers of Microsoft’s products and services have needed to reference at least two documents – the Product List and the Product Use Rights – to help determine the purchasing requirements and...
24Feb
Be Mindful of Historical Usage When Licensing Microsoft Products Under SPLA
The Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) is Microsoft’s preferred licensing option for businesses wanting to use Microsoft products in support of hosted software solutions made available to end users over the Internet. For many companies,...
