Software is what makes our computers run. From the operating system to the tools, we use on a daily basis for work or at home. All of that software was created by someone (a software development company, usually, but with the advent of apps on smartphones, it could be developed by an individual). The developers of the software we all use retain certain rights related to that software and extend certain rights to us, the users of the software.
This is the basis of Software Licensing for businesses. Software licensing for businesses is similar to licensing for driving a car: you, the licensee, agree to certain restrictions and limitations placed on you by the state or country, the licensor, in which you obtain a driver’s license. If you fail to abide by these restrictions and limitations, your license may be revoked. It is the same with software. When you purchase and/or install a piece of software, you are agreeing to certain limitations on how you will use that software, including what you will do with it and how (and if) you will share that software and its output with someone else.
Most software is protected by copyright laws that prevent the distribution of the software to other parties. The software license spells out any terms that relate to how you may transmit the software to a third party, or if you must retain sole ownership of the software. This is particularly applicable to organizations with multiple computers who want to have the same software on all of them. Often, these organizations will need to buy software licenses for each computer they install the software on unless the terms of the license allow for multi-user licensing.
Software licensing for businesses exists, primarily, to protect the creator of the software from use which may cause harm to the business. For example, a software license often includes information about not reverse engineering the software – that is, the licensee may not try to figure out how the software works for the purpose of recreating the software. A license also protects the creator from lawsuits related to the software. It holds the creator indelible should the software cause damage to the hardware that the licensee installs the software on. The software creator wants to keep themselves out of the courtroom in any way they can, and they spell out a lot in the software license in an effort to prevent the user from taking them to court, or to ensure the creator is successful in a lawsuit against the user.
For more detailed information about how software licensing for businesses works, call 314-801-6700 of click here: Clarus Communications. Our understanding of how software licensing works will help you better understand the process, whether you are a software development company looking to protect your software or a software user who is confused by the terms of a software license your company is looking to install on its computers.
Software licensing for businesses is a powerful part of the process of designing and releasing software. It is there mainly to protect the software creator, but can also help protect the end user from things not listed in the license. Therefore, it is important as a developer to write a license that is as inclusive as you can make it, and it is important as a user to read and understand the license before installing the software.