Would You Install Pirated Software at Work? 848
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
I suggest you document everything, off site and get your CV circulated immediately.
Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:4, Insightful)
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. (Score:4, Insightful)
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. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:3, Interesting)
It seems to me that the best thing to do would be to write e-mail to the company bosses and tell them your concerns and your recomendations, and BCC it to a separate e-mail that you control. Then forward the responses. Do what your bosses ask, and if the BSA comes knocking, show them the e-mails.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Interesting)
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. (Score:5, Insightful)
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. (and DOCUMENT) (Score:4, Informative)
One approach is to ask them to sign an affidavit stating you are doing this because told to, and that all parties recognize the illegality of it. If they fire you as a result of your "attitude", you probably have a case for taking them to court for illegal termination.
What ever you end up doing though, I'd get out of there ASAP.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
If they come asking you to duplicate and sell Office CDs, well then that's another matter.
If you are the vengeful sort, a call to the BSA would be a nice touch.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Informative)
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-
The punishment is up to 3 or 5 years and $2500.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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]
email won't save the job. (Score:3, Informative)
The more I think about it, the more the honest choice sounds right. You can't make dishonest people act right. When your boss is not honest, it's time to leave.
If they are going to fire him for refusing, they will lose the email and lie about that too if anything bad happens. They can also lie about the licenses. The boss will lie to HR and then paper his file as a trouble maker.
They've asked him to do something they think is wrong. There's no winning in a situation like that.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
That ought to make it hard to 'lose'.
If you're that worried about your job, HR too.
Re:email won't save the job. (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, as if THAT isn't a career limiting move. Everyone LOVES a snitch.
First you email them. Maybe you'll even get a noteworthy response you can then keep for a while.
Seriously, don't snitch as a first resort, use it as a last resort - hell even make an HR issue out of it.
Re:email won't save the job. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:email won't save the job. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:email won't save the job. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:email won't save the job. (Score:4, Interesting)
Bad advice. Snitching is a bad thing. You don't have to. The proper, legal, way is the right thing to do. Refuse the request. Don't go above someones head (that is usually a bad idea). If you have an HR department, talk to the HR person. The HR person is in legal hot water if he complains and later get fired for sticking to the law.
As I said - there is a proper process for this, and it is trivial. He sticks to the law. Refueses all such requests. If they fire him, he sues them. They're not going to fire him. If the organization is of some size, his manager should be in trouble once the HR person gets involved.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:4, Insightful)
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" (you might also want to touch it up a bit to make it sound like you suspect your boss innocently did not realize the licensing issues). That will essentially force them to abide by your decision, and if they accuse you of snitching on them you can claim you were just trying to make it easier for them to purchase the additional licenses. Plus the vendor may offer a discount to keep you from going down the open source road and you would get the credit for finding it.
And worst case scenario, if you ever do need a new job, you have a new contact at your vendor who would certainly give you a good recommendation.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Looks Like You Dont Work in Corp America (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Looks Like You Dont Work in Corp America (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:4, Insightful)
Very easy to sit there and say "just quit your job", isn't it?
Let me guess, the issue for you [slashdot.org] here is that they're not using open source as you'd like? What "better software" exists?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Very easy to sit there and say "just quit your job", isn't it?
I've quit more than one dishonest employer and don't regret it. They never pay their would be bag men well anyway.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:4, Insightful)
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. No babies are being eaten, and no Nazis are riding dinosaurs. Choosing to to honor IP laws that are themselves ethically questionable over one's own survival is not something I expect anyone to do, regardless of the law. Maybe he has kids to feed. Maybe he lives paycheck to paycheck. There are a lot of reasons he might not be able to just quit.
I think anyone who's ever gone to bed hungry would totally appreciate that.
Quitting is best. (Score:4, Interesting)
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.
No, we're talking about not being someone else's bagman and the risks that involves. The problem here is that the boss is transferring the risk his company is taking to the employee. If something goes wrong he's screwed and won't have the option of another job he has now. If the company is caught and he's blamed, he'll end up washing dishes for a living.
I've worked with convicted felons and they all deeply regret their convictions. Their crimes were petty but it has locked them out of all sorts of honest work. The few people who hire them do so because they know they can squeeze that much harder. This makes life harder for them than you and me.
Re:Stick to your guns and quit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, I'd get evidence I was ordered to do something, like an email, and then just do it. Then quietly start looking for another job. The idea that I'm going to just barge into the CTO's office, throw my badge in his face and walk off into the sunset is a little ridiculou
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
That's the only sensible course of action here, but I would add: do NOT do something illegal on behalf of your employer, ever, even if means quitting on the spot. No job is worth the hit you will personally take when it comes out. "I was just following orders" doesn't cut much ice with the military when lives are on the line, and will cut absolutely none if you knowingly broke the law just to make money for your employer.
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:3, Informative)
I did say "even if" it means quitting on the spot. That may well be the outcome, when Mr Executive says "Well, either you follow our instructions or we let you go."
US employment law is completely different to that in the UK. In particular, IIRC most US states are still "at will" states, where either party may terminate an employment contract without
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Informative)
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 (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
I would suggest Legal department/counsel, if your company has one, is where you should be going if you are concerned with legal ramifications -- that's their job, they are the ones paid to determine what is and isn't the best legal way to proceed.
Installing multiple copies of Office is not illegal, but copyright infringment is, and it's up to the lawyers to sort out what can and cannot be done, to minimize liability.
And they may know things you don't know, like special super-secret deals the company may have signed out with software vendors, that you're not privvy to or allowed to know about.
If the lawyers who specialize in the law and representing the company say it's OK and sign their name to it, then you have to take their word on the matter, even if you personally disagree -- it's their a** on the line, not yours.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
You seemed to have missed the point somewhat. They are asking him to commit a crime. An employer can not ask you to do that, and fire you when you refuse. If they did, you would have the option of going to court and suing for wrongful termination, but its probably not worth the effort. So you are right in some respects, but you still have legal recourse in this situation.
So I'm curious (not really knowing) as to what the reality is. Is the reality
1) "They'll fire your ass for insubordination and if you complain about it they'll bury you. Sure you can, in theory, sue them for "wrongful termination" but you'll probably never get another job in the US if you do. And they have more money than you do, so they'll likely win in court, anyway"
Or is it
2) "If you refuse the illegal order and they fire you, you'll be fine. Most companies actually try to follow the law and expect thei
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/H/96210_01.htm#sect
www.bchrt.bc.ca - BC Human Rights Tribunal
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm really not trying to troll here........and I really do believe that:
1) Pirating software for home use is minor
2) Pirating software for a business (or for the purpose of making money FROM that software) is not so minor
But really, you have mentioned "most of the uses are for people using Excel like a database, or formatting of text in cells".
I suppose if you answer the initial question I posed by burning him
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Personally, I wouldn't burn the CDs either. For one thing, I think the basic premise of copyright is a reasonable, practical idea and I don't consider ripping the fruits of others' labours without compensation to have any sort of moral or ethical basis. For another, even if it were a "minor" crime in isolation, committing it under those circumstances would not just be breaking the law, but doing so for personal profit (if it's part of the job for which I am being paid), which as far as I'm concerned makes i
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:3, Interesting)
if they're willing to overrule you and insist you commit an illegal act
I wasn't aware that installing multiple copies of Office in excess of the number that you've licensed was illegal. It's definitely a violation of the software license, but illegal? I have a hard time seeing criminal charges result from something like this.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
but attempts to hold
Re:Just watch your back (Score:4, Informative)
The threshold for criminal infringement is pretty low -- just $1,000 worth of stuff within 180 days. If he's being asked to install Office Professional 2007, he'd hit that (well... $999.90) with two installations.
But to your point -- I believe the common threshold for actual prosecution is much higher... in the five figure range. Bigger fish, and all that.
Re:Just watch your back (Score:4, Informative)
Now, let's look at the law regarding copyright infringement:
U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 506:
US Code, Title 18, section 2319:
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Insightful)
It is your responsibility to disobey illegal orders.
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just watch your back (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Just watch your back (Score:4, Informative)
That is pure BS!! (Score:4, Insightful)
If what you're saying is true then a career as a Hitman or mercenary would be a perfectly legitimate career. One could order and carry out assassinations with impunity.
An contract to commit an illegal act is not valid a contract. That is why contracts to kill cannot be enforced and legitimate hit agencies do not exist. The argument that you were simply holding up your end of the deal (even if it is through a limit liability corporation) is not a defense in court. Similarly, if you are ordered to do something illegal you cannot argue that you were obliged to do it unless the company threatened you or your family with physical harm.
Re:Just watch your back (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:5, Informative)
Blow that whistle (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Ask Slashdot: How do I act on principle? (Score:5, Insightful)
Answer, you have a choice: Grow some balls or a spine. Really, either will do.
Re:Ask Slashdot: How do I act on principle? (Score:4, Insightful)
Two true stories in this vein (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Blow the whistle or quit (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:Blow the whistle or quit (Score:5, Interesting)
Which is the lesser of two evils? (Score:4, Insightful)
To me, the decision is clear-cut.
Re:Which is the lesser of two evils? (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
This is the logic your mom used in that "If everyone else jumped off of a bridge, would you do it too?"
Just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it right. Then again, just because it is law, that doesn't necessarily make it right either. The only thing that can be taken from your statement is that if the majority is breaking the law then the validity, justness or application of the law to modern time
Professional (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
http://lopsa.org/CodeOfEthics [lopsa.org]
Re:Professional (Score:5, Funny)
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 (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
It is unprofessio
Of course. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Of course. (Score:4, Interesting)
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.
Understand your situation. (Score:5, Insightful)
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?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
You do know you'll be the fall guy, right? (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Funny)
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 (Score:4, Insightful)
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? (Score:5, Funny)
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: (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Re: A few options: (Score:3, Funny)
Refuse (Score:5, Interesting)
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? (Score:4, Insightful)
Tell me again why you are so attached to this job?
Re:Why do you want to keep the job so badly? (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
No license, no install (Score:3, Informative)
Part of my job as I.T. Manager has been to make my boss aware of the liability of using pirated software, and of allowing employees to use pirating software like Limewire, etc. If they insist on doing things that expose them to liability it won't be because they didn't know it was a bad idea.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Get your reward (Score:4, Interesting)
The BSA gives out rewards for reporting piracy. Tell them the situation, but not the company, and find out if the reward will be worth possibly losing your job for reporting them. Then if you do lose your job that's good lawsuit fodder. Reporting is confidential, so the BSA won't tell it's you, but they'll probably know anyway due to your past protests.
I really don't like the BSA, which likes to drastically punish people for shoddy license accounting. But this is a case of a company willfully and against clear advice installing, using and profiting off of unlicensed software on a large scale. It's just wrong.
When I was in your shoes (Score:3, Interesting)
Use the force Luke... (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Writing (Score:4, Interesting)
First, insist that they give you the order to install that software in writing. Tell them that you believe it is breaking the law, but as a good employee you will of course do it if ordered to do so in writing with either a) a statement from the legal department that it's legal or b) a statement from the boss that he's taking responsibility.
Stand your ground on this one. Make sure you have a witness (a co-worker) if things get tough.
Second, put your objections in writing as well. Sign them and mail them to a third party - a union representative, a lawyer, anyone who'll count for something in a court of law.
That should cover your ass. If you're ok withh probably breaking the law, you're good from here. If you're not ok, do the one thing you can (and, by the way, are legally obliged to) do: Inform the authorities. Really. Stop dancing around the fire. No matter what you do, one thing is sure to not make you happy in the long run, and that's the half-assed way.
oh please (Score:4, Insightful)
It is amazing how easy it is to tell someone else to quit their job. The majority of people telling this guy to quit have probably installed lots of pirated software in the past, and they probably have music that they didn't buy. Why should you be so offended when your manager asks you to do something that you've already done in your personal life many times?
It is kind of like if you are a mass murderer and go to prison, and your cell mate asks you to kill someone in a cell down the hall. Shouldn't be that offended that he asked, should you?
Anyway, what this company is asking him to do is wrong. No doubt. But I love the fact that everyone here is so incredibly offended and now has all these morales that they didn't have last week when they were posting bits about how they trade music files without guilt because even though the law says it is illegal, they don't recognize the law as being valid.
Well, this is SLASHDOT, after all.
Immediately Resign (Score:3, Insightful)
Resign, and make no bones about why.
Integrity (Score:4, Insightful)
And the reason for that answer is best summed up by one of my all-time favourite quotations (from, I think, Alan Simpson): "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters".
Protect Yourself (Score:3, Insightful)
The fact of the matter is that you need to *first* make sure that you handle the situation calmly. If your boss backs down, it doesn't mean he isn't going to hold a grudge against you if you caused his pet project to fail.
Proving why you have been fired can be a tough thing to do if time is allowed to pass. You need to evaluate if you can work with this individual in the future. If he is the type to hold grudges, start looking for another job, even if he seems to calm down. A boss who is willing to order you to break laws will see nothing wrong with trumping up means to decrease your performance ratings even if he doesn't fire you or target you for the next layoff. Moral high-ground isn't very comforting if you are sacked and not prepared for it.
If any boss gave me an illegal order, I'd instantly consider getting a new job. Even if you aren't fired, you may find yourself laid off after someone sues your company for similar actions.
Don't expect the legal system to protect you without preparation. If a boss calls you into his office and gives you an illegal order that you refuse, it will be very difficult to prove he ever gave the order if that boss denies it. Your word against his and all that. At that point, you are a potentially marked man, without recourse until you take some action to strengthen your position.
If the boss does manage to give you the order without any other witnesses, your first step is to go to his boss, with a co-worker and report that order was given. He needs to know about his underling, and you want the co-worker there to make sure that it is clear that you immediately went to him about it. It also prevents that person from covering your boss and his own backend, should he also be the unscrupulous type.
Be professional about it, though. I have had some bosses who were generally not bad people, but wanted to get the job done. If you can phrase your refusal in a way that is not indignant, but still a firm, "no", then you will be better off. He may realize he's been a jerk, but rubbing it in his face is a bad idea, unless you plan on leaving your job soon anyway.
Re:or "Would you say anything?" (Score:4, Informative)
Are you aware that 7-Zip has a file manager mode that does the same kind of crap as winzip and winrar?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Recent versions of Office explicitly address the Terminal Services environment and say that you have to "have" a separate MS Office license for every possible desktop that's used to access Office even occassionally. If someone logged in from home one day and fired up office remotely, MS says you need to buy another Office license. There's no way to actually install these licenses anywhere, but you're expected to have them.
You also need a separate per-device TS-CAL and CAL for e