Would You Install Pirated Software at Work?

An anonymous reader asks: "I am an IT professional, and due to budget constraints, I have been told to install multiple copies of MS Office, despite offering to install OpenOffice, and other OpenSource Office products. Even though most of the uses are for people using Excel like a database, or formatting of text in cells, other programs are not tolerated. I have been over ruled by our controller, to my disagreement. I would never turn them in, but I am in tough place by knowing doing something illegal. I want to keep my job, but disagree with some of the decision making on this issue. Other than drafting a letter to the owners of the company on how I disagree with the policy, what else can I do?"

Just watch your back

[AmIAnAi (975049)]

You must ask yourself: if they're willing to overrule you and insist you commit an illegal act, how are they going to behave should this come to the attention of FAST (or other enforcement body)? My guess is they will dump it all on your shoulders. If they don't play by the rules now, they certainly will not start when their backs are against the wall.

I suggest you document everything, off site and get your CV circulated immediately.

Stick to your guns and quit.

[twitter (104583)]

how are they going to behave should this come to the attention of FAST (or other enforcement body)?

Why bother to find out?

Tell them that you are going to Install Open Office or quit. It's not that what they have asked is morally wrong, it's that it exposes YOU to danger for their benefit. Oh yeah, it's also stupid because better software exists and they have "standardized" on the worst. You offered your advice and they discarded it, so it's time to go unless you want to be an bag man.

By the way, the anonymous reader has already reported them. ISPs already co-operate with media companies and monitors traffic. The chances are they have monitored the post. But it won't matter because someone there will fink sooner or later.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[dougmc (70836)]

Oh yeah, it's also stupid because better software exists and they have "standardized" on the worst.

You aren't saying that OpenOffice is better than MS Office, are you? It's cheaper, it runs on more platforms (which is why I use it on my Linux box for the very few cases where I need Office-type software), but other than that, it's most certainly NOT better.

I love to bash Microsoft as much as the next guy, probably more in fact, but when I'm looking for examples of great free software, OpenOffice usually isn't one of my first choices. It's slow, buggy and just as bloated as Office is -- if not more so. (AbiWord is better, but still not perfect ...)

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[MightyMartian (840721)]

The guy's solution is one that does not expose them (or him) to any potential licensing violations, and consequently any lawsuits. Whether or not OpenOffice, or any open source solution, is better, equal or worse is irrelevant. He's offering them a solution that will offer the shallowest learning curve, will likely do most (if not all) of what they want, is cheap (as in free) and is completely legal and above board.

I would never in a million years expose myself to potential litigation over something like this without a notarized document from my manager protecting me from all blame, and from losing my job if someone comes a'knockin' to check up on licensing violations. Since I doubt anyone's manager has the power to make that deal (unless the manager is an owner), it's going to hit the legal department, and the legal department will probably have a fit, and the whole plan will fall in its ass in a hurry.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[MightyMartian (840721)]

Except that when it gets to court, you have at least some chance of your employer pointing the finger at you and saying "He installed these without our authorization", and suddenly it's you on the hot seat.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[Tony Hoyle (11698)]

Trust me, they will. Same thing happened to me.

I sent such an email. Was then called into the managers office and told in no uncertain terms that if I sent an email like that again I'd be kicked out of the building. They don't like that stuff because it's tracable.

This company had one MSDN for 100 employees. An unlicensed exchange server, mostly unlicensed XP, unlicensed VS2003, unlicensed office, you name it, they didn't license it.

They also ran a single (pirated) vmware GSX server and rented the resulting virtual machines to customers not telling them they were virtual.

This is not uncommon - every company I've ever been with has had the same attitude.

Of course when they all but ordered me to hack into a rival companies servers and steal their data I put my foot down - stripping it from webservers and demo versions of their software is fair game... hacking? I wasn't going to do jail time for them and refused.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[MayorDefacto (586113)]

I sent such an email. Was then called into the managers office and told in no uncertain terms that if I sent an email like that again I'd be kicked out of the building. They don't like that stuff because it's tracable.

Seriously, I know you value your paycheck, but LEAVE. It sounds like your company has serious ethical deficiencies that border on criminality. Based on the fact that they're asking you to do something illegal and refuse to listen to the voice of reason-- especially in light of the fact that they told you you'd be out on your ass for bringing this up in a traceable forum-- you really need to remove yourself from such a toxic work environment. The stress of having to find another job pales in comparison to the stress of being the fall guy when their scheme is discovered.

Do what's best for YOU and get out!

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[lhand (30548)]

Whow sport!
Saying my boss tole me to will not protect you.
In the United States there is such a thing as criminal copyright infringement:
Title 17-

Sec. 506. Criminal offenses

(a) Criminal Infringement.--Any person who infringes a copyright
willfully either--
(1) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial
gain, or
(2) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic
means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or
phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total
retail value of more than $1,000,

shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, United
States Code. For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction
or distribution of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be
sufficient to establish willful infringement.

The punishment is up to 3 or 5 years and $2500.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[avronius (689343)]

One e-mail message will do the job nicely.

To: [e-mail address of manager]
Bcc: [your personal e-mail address]
Subject: [Product] installations and license limitations
Body:
[name of manager],

I have reviewed our records and determined that we have x licenses for [product]. There are users that require this product, yet do not currently have it installed, and there are insufficient licenses to meet their needs. Unfortunately, we are not able proceed with installing more copies of this software until new licenses are purchased.

I am attaching the name of our local [product] vendor, as well as his/her direct number, so that you can obtain additional licensing. When the new licenses arrive, we will happy to proceed with the new installations.

Alternatively, we would be happy to install an available opensource alternative. There are a handful of products that might be more suitable in this environment, and we are willing to work with the users to ensure the right products for them.

We are not willing to put this company at risk of litigation or prosecution for software misuse.

Sincerely,

[You]

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[bob_herrick (784633)]

Unfortunately, we are not able proceed with installing more copies of this software until new licenses are purchased. [emphasis added]

It's not that it is unfortunate, it's that it would be illegal. It's not that you are incapable of doing an installation, it's that to do so would break the law. I would rewrite this sentence to reflect the situation, rather than leaving room for 'misinterpretation.' Something like the following is what I have in mind.

Under the terms of our license with [whomever], it is not legal for us to install more copies unless we purchase additional licenses.

This serves to put the decision maker on clear notice, and forms the basis for you legitimate refusal if it comes to that.

Either way this comes out, update your CV and get it launched.

Looks Like You Dont Work in Corp America

[SRA8 (859587)]

I've been in a similar situation. I didnt make the email that formal, but basically wrote "Per out conversation, I will make X copies of WorldScope, based on your understanding that so many floating licenses are available." My boss wrote back "do not install." Then came by my desk and verbally said to install. THEN what do you do?

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[terjeber (856226)]

Even better, cc your vendor and include a line like "I've included John from {insert vendor's name} whom you can contact to purchase additional licenses

Never, never, never. Don't do this. Bad idea. CC the HR person only. Keep it internal. Don't snitch like this, it is not your business to do that, and it can (rightfully so) make you entirely unemployable. Go the HR way and sue their asses if they fire you.

Re:email won't save the job.

[pete6677 (681676)]

You're not doing this to keep your career within the company, you're doing it to buy some time while you search for a job with an ethical firm. Of course an unethical boss will try to get you fired for blowing the whistle. The email is just to cover your ass and possibly have grounds for a wrongful termination suit. Career potential in a company like this is zero unless you can actively aid and abet wrongdoing.

Re:Stick to your guns and quit.

[terjeber (856226)]

Ethics is further down the list of things to be true to than survival. Especially since we're talking about something as abstract as violating a copyright.

If you break the law, you break the law, and you take responsibility. It doesn't matter if someone "ordered" you to break the law. You see, you can't be ordered by anyone to break the law no matter what, if they did your responsibility was to completely ignore them.

The one thing to remember is that the following is illegal for a company (1) to order an employee to break the law and (2) to fire someone for refusing to break the law. A company will normally get punished hard for firing someone for refusing to break the law.

If the original poster sticks to his guns and still experiences significant pressure over this issue after refusing, he should seek proper legal counsel. If he is fired and he lives in the US, he could end up with a decent settlement.

Re:Just watch your back

[Jarjarthejedi (996957)]

You work for the government and you don't think they'll dump possible licensing issues on your shoulders? No offense but that's a bit naive, the gov is MORE likely to do that than your average company, not less, as has been shown by the large number of times a low level person in the government is fired for one of the big timer's mistakes. If I were you I'd get those documents in triplicate in different places...

Re:Just watch your back

[tehwebguy (860335)]

Wouldn't he be legally responsible for taking that action, even if he were ordered to do so?

Re:Just watch your back

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes.

It is your responsibility to disobey illegal orders.

Re:Just watch your back

[Anonymous Coward]

ok sheridan

Re:Just watch your back

[jhylkema (545853)]

My contract and enlistment oath says I swore to "obey all LAWFUL orders", and they're quite quick to fry anybody woh does something illegal with the cop-out "but I was ordered to...."

Think so, huh? Wonder what 1LT Ehren Watada [thankyoult.org] has to say about that.

Besides, the Nuremberg Doctrine is a shining example of victor's (so-called) justice [wikipedia.org]. The Allies knew right, good and well that "but I was refusing an illegal order" would have gotten nowhere. "That's nice, private. Would you like a blindfold? A cigarette? Do you have any last words?" Watada's situation is proof positive of that.

I have karma to burn, so fire away, wingnut mods.

Screw that its every person for themselves

[teknosapien (1012209)]

I've been in a similar position where I was asked me to testify against my employer. My employer made it clear that if I did "my Career" path would be very limited. So I testified my company was found at fault and within 3 months I was asked to resign, at which point I refused. A few months later I was RIF'd from my position with no separation package. In the exit interview I simply stated "wonder how the lawyers" will feel about this. True to form I had an offer to leave and not come back but I would receive a paycheck for the next 18 months along with all my benefits. If you do the right thing you wont have any regrets. In your position I'm guessing you probably have a manager that is trying to look good by saving money. when the chips fall he's not going to stand in the way of some one else taking the blame. Remember you work for .gov and your expected to fall on your sword

Blow that whistle

[dunng808 (448849)]

For anyone working for the Federal Government and find themselves in a similar situation, report it to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Disclosure Unit. [osc.gov] This office "...serves as a safe conduit for the receipt and evaluation of whistleblower disclosures from federal employees, former employees and applicants for federal employment."

Ignore all the advice to quit. That may be a viable option for run-of-the-mill civilian jobs, but in federal service there is only one employer. Move to another position, yes, but don't give up a federal career over something so insignificant as this. And no, you are not expected to fall on your sword. You are expected to disclose fraud, waste, and abuse.

Re:Just watch your back

[cliffski (65094)]

why would he have to quit? Just don't do it. What is the worst that can happen? they fire you? I don't know US law but in the UK, that would be clear cut unfair dismissal and they could be severely punished by the courts. I doubt you are a union member, but if you are, this is the kind of thing you would have them handle.
It amazes me that execs in companies can be such thieving bastards, even in companies that themselves make software. If it was somehow necessary for you to quit, then I would 100% definitely report them to FAST if they went ahead anyway. In any case, it sounds like a pretty low-life employer, so your medium to long term plan should be to leave anyway.

Re:Just watch your back

[tverbeek (457094)]

Even in states with "at will" employment, you might still have some legal recourse with a "wrongful termination" suit in a situation like this. You won't get your job back, but you might get some other court-imposed judgment out of them (i.e. cash).

As in so many Ask Slashdots, the answer to this one includes the instruction, "Consult an attorney". The OP needs to find out what his legal rights are in his jurisdiction. In the meantime, document this situation clearly: Put your objections into a memo, addressed to everyone up the chain of command, and request the instructions to install unlicensed software in writing. Following Orders With Objection puts you in a better position than Just Following Orders.

In case you haven't already pursued this, try to find someone in executive management who is willing to listen to you. Talk to the Legal department or the company's counsel. The senior execs will probably never listen to you (mine never have), but they might listen to someone else in management. This is the approach I took in my first job out of college, where the entire corporate office was being run on a single retail copy of Lotus 123 and WordPerfect, and POs for new computers would come back from Purchasing with the software line-items crossed out "because we already have this". Once Executive Management understood the possible consequences of this approach, I was finally allowed to buy software with all new PCs, and eventually the pirated installs found their way into landfills and the company was legal.

Re:Just watch your back

[Bogtha (906264)]

That's the only sensible course of action here, but I would add: do NOT do something illegal on behalf of your employer

Ditto. An old boss of mine was a bit of a bully, and one day he called me into a private meeting and asked me to break into an ex-employee's server to see if they'd copied any of our code (it was actually quite likely). I told him point blank that I wouldn't be doing it and suggested he talk to a solicitor about the suspected copyright infringement. His response? "Oh. Um, okay." It's the quickest I ever saw him back down on anything by miles.

The thing is, they already know they are in the wrong and are sticking their neck out by asking you to do it. It would take a real psychopath to attempt to force you into it after you refuse. Normal people, even nightmare bosses, are going to back down immediately.

Re:Just watch your back

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you're confusing me with another poster on some of your comment, BTW.

Probably me. We do have similar names.

Ask Slashdot: How do I act on principle?

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Slashdot, I have a set of principles that I adhere to rigorously. Today, I have been presented with something that violates my principles. What should I do?

Answer, you have a choice: Grow some balls or a spine. Really, either will do.

Two true stories in this vein

[Roadkills-R-Us (122219)]

1) Early in my career, a VP walked into my office and asked me to steal a copy of a competitor's source code. I refused. I later found out he'd already asked someone else more senior, who had also refused. He eventually came to his senses, and never asked us to do anything unethical or illegal again. Everyone lived happily ever after.

2) A few years later at another company, two C?Os kept a vendor busy while another VP "borrowed" a copy of their code "until we can afford to pay it back". The rest of us found out about this when the company got sued. Not long after, the company went into bankruptcy and everyone was laid off. Just before thanksgiving. Happy holidays to all the rest of us. I don't think it came to criminal proceedings against the officers of the company, but it very well could have. Civil suits were also filed against the CEO/CFO team, and they declared personal bankruptcy as well.

So which boat would you rather be in?

I know, you could end up getting chunked out of the boat all together. At that point, I'd drop the hammer on them. If you think think that's a likely scenario, speak with a lawyer NOW so if they threaten you, you know what to say. That might solve teh problem.

Blow the whistle or quit

[Anonymous Coward]

The minute you install the pirated software, you have no moral leg to stand on. You either stick to your guns or you leave. The "I did it because it was my job to do it" defense has been tried (literally) and failed.

Re:Blow the whistle or quit

[QuantumRiff (120817)]

And when you file for unemployment, and they deny your claim at first because your left voluntarily, and then you file paperwork in response that you left under duress after being ordered by a superior to do something against the law, stuff gets interesting!

Re:Blow the whistle or quit

[iminplaya (723125)]

"Befehl ist Befehl" or "only following orders"

I don't speak any German, but doesn't that literally mean "Orders are orders"? Anyway, I don't believe in turning people in for property crimes given their vengeful nature on both sides of the law, and I wouldn't want to put myself in the line of fire, having to testify, have my personal things torn up, possibly losing my own computer at home even, for "discovery", etc. And even more so, I don't want to be labeled as a snitch. I would be completely untrustworthy in the future, and rightfully so. Don't do anything that can be traced back to you. Look for another job, and maybe don't use that particular employer as a reference. They might get caught, and something could lead back to you, even if they are outright lies. Our system has turned honesty into a liability. When dealing with the authorities, always do so anonymously.

Which is the lesser of two evils?

[Pig Hogger (10379)]

You have to chose between the lesser of two evils. Go against your bosses wishes, or go against the law.

To me, the decision is clear-cut.

Re:Which is the lesser of two evils?

[arivanov (12034)]

Which country?

Western Europe, USA, Japan - decision is indeed clear cut as they will blame you for it anyway. It is solely a question of who does it first.

Eastern Europe, Russia, China - you have a WHOLE ONE LEGAL COPY OF OFFICE? Who is the out of his mind person to buy it.

So it is all relative... Same as Microsoft policy to enforcing piracy. I have seen them turn a blind eye too many once you get far enough east. After all, as with all crack dealers - the first dose of is free.

Professional

[26199 (577806)]

Any actual profession... and as much as IT/programming may claim to be one, it isn't really one yet... has a code of conduct that says quite clearly what you need to do. You can't be a professional and knowingly support illegal activity.

Re:Professional

[sconeu (64226)]

You mean like the ACM Code of Ethics [acm.org]?

Re:Professional

[Glonoinha (587375)]

He forgot a few :
I will not be a camper or AWP-whore.
I will not spawn-kill.
I will not kill-steal or ninja-loot or intentionally train-to-zone.
I will immediately delete any porn I find that involves obviously underage participants, and then go wash my eyes out with soap.

Re:Professional

[Grishnakh (216268)]

I think the idea is a true professional doesn't support illegal activity on the jobsite, or related to his career. Cannabis has nothing at all to do with software engineering, just like vacation travel to Cuba (also stupidly illegal) has nothing to do with software engineering. Stances on political issues (which these are) really have no bearing on your profession. Knowingly violating copyrights and licenses, however, has a direct bearing on your profession, and is not something a good professional would do (regardless of his feelings on the issue). This doesn't mean he couldn't be against the current copyright laws, and write to his political representatives in order to have the laws changed, but while those laws are in force, he needs to abide by them in the course of his professional duties.

Understand your situation.

[khasim (1285)]

If you don't get it in writing, should anything happen and the company be audited ... YOU will be the one blamed and fired.

Everyone else will swear that YOU were the loose cannon. That they would NEVER violate a copyright. That they are 100% honest.

Really. They're already asking you to violate your ethics / principles. Why would you believe that they wouldn't lie about who's idea it was?

You do know you'll be the fall guy, right?

[elrous0 (869638)]

You should go into this knowing that, if you get caught, everyone will point the finger squarely at you. That same boss who is ordering you to do this will deny that he knew anything about it and say that you did it on your own. As long as you're willing to deal with the legal and financial fallout that could hit you personally, then go for it.

Personally, there is *NO WAY IN HELL* I would do it. Nor would I work for a company that was irresponsible enough to even ASK me to. Sounds like you've picked a pretty shady and unstable company to work for. If I were you, I would stall on the installation ("We're having some technical issues with some of the machines, sir") and start looking for a new job. DO NOT install it if you plan on doing this (they would still blame you after-the-fact).

I've been down this road

[Xest (935314)]

I've been in a similar situation, only for us it was the case where someone wanted to run a course in our IT Suite. They needed specific software for the course and told me this 2 days before the course was due to run, they told me they'd ordered the licenses and were on the way but might not make it until after the course was due to run.

Knowing what these people are like, and having little confidence in their ordering of the licenses I put my foot down and refused to install it until the licenses arrived, I made the point that if this caused a problem for their course that they should perhaps consider not leaving things until the last minute in future. My line manager backed me up in my stance however my boss over-ruled both of us and told us to install it, standing my ground I defied him and refused to do so. Eventually my boss installed the software himself, so the course ran and so forth but at least I hadn't been the one to break the law, the best part? Those licenses never arrived, the whole thing was completely illegal, frankly I fail to believe the licenses were ever really ordered.

You shouldn't worry about losing your job by refusing to do this, they'll most likely back down on any threat to sack you. If they do however follow through then you're looking at an extremely strong court case involving a massive payout for yourself. If you get sacked and know they have gone ahead installing illegal copies, your first stop should be to report them to whatever country deals with anti-piracy raids, when you report it ask that any evidence of infringement they find be made available to your court case, this will make your case pretty much un-loseable. Just bear in mind that you absolutely do not have to do this, you're entirely in the right by refusing to do so and the law will recognise that.

One other thing to note is that if you do follow through, obey your orders and install the software - what happens if someone else reports your company? Can you really be sure they'll take the blame? What are you going to do if they say they had no knowledge of pirate software on your systems and hence the blame gets shifted entirely on you.

I think most people pirate at least some software and home, and so some may say it's hypocritical to say the things I've said here knowing that, but there's a distinction to be made between what you do at home and being professional at work. No one has to know what you get upto at home, and so the risk is more controlled, however at work any number of your users could cash in on that $1000 software piracy report reward or whatever. Furthermore, I'd imagine the penalties for what would probably be commercial copyright infringement would be much more harsh than for home copying also.

Re:I've been down this road

[Red Flayer (890720)]

but there's a distinction to be made between what you do at home and being professional at work. No one has to know what you get upto at home, and so the risk is more controlled, however at work any number of your users could cash in on that $1000 software piracy report reward or whatever. Furthermore, I'd imagine the penalties for what would probably be commercial copyright infringement would be much more harsh than for home copying also.

There's another distinction too -- at home you're exposing yourself to risk; you get caught, you face the consequences. At work you're exposing your employer as well as yourself.

I think it's a lot more wrong to expose others than to expose just myself.

Err, I probalby could phrase that a bit better... I think it's bad to expose others to risk than to just expose myself to risk.

Just don't do it

[Goose42 (88624)]

The answer is simple, just don't do it. Just do your other jobs instead of following your boss' order to break the law. If he fires you, sue. You'll win multiple years of lost salary easily when the reason you were fired is that you were ordered to commit illegal acts and wouldn't. In the end, it'll look good on the resume for your next job, because future employers will know that you'll stand your ground for the things that are right.

Honestly, I'm speaking from a little bit of experience here, so keep a stiff upper lip and don't give in to your boss.

Any disgruntled employees?

[eln (21727)]

You're the IT guy. Find an employee who is disgruntled (or maybe just use the guy that keeps eating your lunch out of the fridge even though it's CLEARLY marked with BIG BLACK MARKER with your name). Send an email ratting the company out to the BSA from that person's account. Put a BSA bumper sticker on his car. Sneak into his house and put a thank you card ("The Business Software Alliance thanks you for reporting 500 scofflaw software stealing terrorists in 2006! Wishing you more success bringing down more scum in 2007!") on his mantle.

Meanwhile, forge emails from your boss to you threatening to fire you if you don't immediately and without question install as much illegal software as possible. Include some BSA baiting ("And if the BSA comes around, I've got a few shotgun shells with their names on it! Yeehaw!") For extra points, forge an entire email thread wherein he continues to threaten you and the BSA and anyone else you can think of despite your continued objections. Throw in some sentences where you attempt to convince him of his wrongs through Bible verses.

When the BSA comes to the office, throw a Molotov cocktail from your boss's window toward their car. Leave the building and wait across the street for the SWAT team to arrive. If your boss tries to come out, as soon as you can see him coming out the door yell as loud as you can "He's got a gun!"

This should take care of your problem.

A few options:

[paladinwannabe2 (889776)]

1. Threaten to quit if they don't comply.

2. Quit.

3. Mention that penalties for pirating software are more expensive than buying it in the first place.

4. Install Open Office instead, see if people notice.

5. Threaten to inform Microsoft/BSA.

6. Draft your letter to the company owners, but instead talk about how 'Open Office saves money' without mentioning your PHB's stupid plan to pirate Windows.

7. Go over your bosses's head and tell the owners what he's up to.

I'm sure other people will give you options as well. You obviously have principles, don't let your work overrule them.

Refuse

[zx75 (304335)]

It's a hard path, and I know someone who has walked it. I have a cousin who was in the same situation and was fired for refusing to perform those illegal acts.
If you are in your grace period, they can terminate you without giving a reason, but if you've been employed for some time they cannot legally fire you for refusing to perform an illegal act.

In the end, my cousin didn't get anything out of it. He had to find another job (and did) but he did have the satisfaction of seeing the company get busted for unrelated illegal actions, which were then compounded when the illegal software was discovered.

To this day, even though it was tough being forced to find a new job, he is glad that he took a stand against it... and I'll be the first to admit that I admire him for it.

Why do you want to keep the job so badly?

[Slashdot Parent (995749)]

They asked you to violate the law and your own ethics, you gave them perfectly reasonable alternatives that would cost them nothing, and they still overruled you.

Tell me again why you are so attached to this job?

Re:Why do you want to keep the job so badly?

[stinerman (812158)]

Probably because the guy needs to eat.

Not all of us live in a perfect fantasy land where we can just quit jobs that offend our ethics. The guy probably has a family to support. Having to take care of other people lessens your ability to stand on principle.

BSA

[eric76 (679787)]

You might point out to them that all it takes is one disgruntled employee or ex-employee to make a complaint to the BSA (Business Software Alliance).

There is a bright spot, however. After they pay a few hundred thousand dollars to the BSA, they may be more willing to switch completely to open source software.

Use the force Luke...

[i_want_you_to_throw_ (559379)]

The force in this case is that you're the IT guy. Can anyone think of the best thing about being the IT guy?

Anyone? anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

You can talk over people's heads and just make stuff up! Seriously. I ask myself this as the IT guy all the time: "Hmmm... do I really want to explain this or do I just want to make something up to get rid of this person?".

Many times, it's make something up. Besides pointing out the obvious illegality, you can just mention that everytime Office is opened the serial number is reported back to Redmond. If two people have it open at the same time then "BAM!" Microsoft sees a possible piracy issue.

Remember as the IT Guy that you possess specialized knowledge not unlike a doctor or a lawyer: professions where making stuff up is a time honored tradition.

Re:Of course.

[Captain Splendid (673276)]

How ELSE would I get anything done?!

I know you meant it as a joke, but it bears repeating. Whenever possible, I always pirate my software first, even at work (own business). The last thing I'm going to do is shell out hundreds of dollars on software that turns out to be shit.

For those a little skeptical I even had a recent example with Winfax pro. Very glad now that I went with Snappyfax instead, instead of shelling out money for Symantec's piece of crap.

And yes, I know that a lot of software is try before you buy, but that's a very recent development, and generally doesn't cover anything more than $50~$100 anyway.

Re:or "Would you say anything?"

[drinkypoo (153816)]

Now, I get around that by using free (if old and unmaintained) software like ZipCentral and Crimson Editor, but not everybody feels that way.

Are you aware that 7-Zip has a file manager mode that does the same kind of crap as winzip and winrar?