Pirate Office ?

[vdz]

Hi All,

I am in a situation that I need your help.
One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course he will
connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange (Outlook), etc.
Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this matter
if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

Who owns the PC and is responsible for the maintenance?

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi All,

I am in a situation that I need your help.
One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course he will
connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange (Outlook), etc.
Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this matter
if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?

Sounds like a good question to ask the company lawyer; or get a statement one
way or the other (in writing) by your MS representative.

Legal advice you get from forums like this is worth about what you paid for it
and might end up costing you a lot.

 

[JoAnn Paules]

Good advice.

FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate copy
before allowing him access to your files.

 

[Earle Horton]

A certain amount of trust is usual in this situation, JoAnn. I am in a
situation where anyone with a school email address and password can log on
to the school wireless network. I don't see how you could possibly verify
that everyone who logged on was doing so from a computer with non-pirated
software. They do make you download an application that verifies that you
at least have antivirus software installed and up to date.

Earle

Good advice.

FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate
copy before allowing him access to your files.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"

Sounds like a good question to ask the company lawyer; or get a statement
one
way or the other (in writing) by your MS representative.

Legal advice you get from forums like this is worth about what you paid
for it
and might end up costing you a lot.

 

[JoAnn Paules]

Tapping into a business is a bit different in my book. Even in school, I
know a lot of colleges are requiring the students to have legal copies.

Plus I read this as the employee using his own system at work. Once it's on
their property doing work for them, it seems they have a certain amount of
responsibility to make sure it's legal.

Like I said tho, this is just my humble opinion. I am not a lawyer nor do I
play one on television.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"

A certain amount of trust is usual in this situation, JoAnn. I am in a
situation where anyone with a school email address and password can log on
to the school wireless network. I don't see how you could possibly verify
that everyone who logged on was doing so from a computer with non-pirated
software. They do make you download an application that verifies that you
at least have antivirus software installed and up to date.

Earle

Good advice.

FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate
copy before allowing him access to your files.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"

Hi All,

I am in a situation that I need your help.
One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course he
will
connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange (Outlook),
etc.
Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this
matter
if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?

Sounds like a good question to ask the company lawyer; or get a
statement one
way or the other (in writing) by your MS representative.

Legal advice you get from forums like this is worth about what you paid
for it
and might end up costing you a lot.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Good advice.

FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate copy
before allowing him access to your files.

I hear that.

But how could the company determine whether the user's copy is valid or
pirated?

Besides that, look at the (jumbo family-size) can of worms that opens up by
extension. I hire you to do some tech editing for me. You might be on the
other side of the country (or world); I've never set eyes on you or the
computer you rode in on. Should I still be responsible for ensuring that your
copy of Office is valid? You're using it to do work for me, after all.

So IMO, it's up to MS to do its own police work.

But as we've agreed, our opinions don't count for much. ;-)

 

[Tom Willett]

I take the stance that it is not up to the company to police the employee's
private computer for illegal/pirated software. The company may have the
right to refuse to let the user connect to the network if they know they
have pirated software. However, I don't see how the company can be held
responsible for the acts of individuals.

If one of our employees stole a pair of jeans from Sears and wore it to
work, why would it be our problem?

Tom
: Tapping into a business is a bit different in my book. Even in school, I
: know a lot of colleges are requiring the students to have legal copies.
:
: Plus I read this as the employee using his own system at work. Once it's
on
: their property doing work for them, it seems they have a certain amount of
: responsibility to make sure it's legal.
:
: Like I said tho, this is just my humble opinion. I am not a lawyer nor do
I
: play one on television.
:
: --
:
: JoAnn Paules
: MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
: Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"
:
:
: : >A certain amount of trust is usual in this situation, JoAnn. I am in a
: >situation where anyone with a school email address and password can log
on
: >to the school wireless network. I don't see how you could possibly
verify
: >that everyone who logged on was doing so from a computer with non-pirated
: >software. They do make you download an application that verifies that
you
: >at least have antivirus software installed and up to date.
: >
: > Earle
: >
: > "JoAnn Paules" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje de
: > noticias : >> Good advice.
: >>
: >> FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
: >> responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate
: >> copy before allowing him access to your files.
: >>
: >> --
: >>
: >> JoAnn Paules
: >> MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
: >> Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"
: >>
: >>
: >> : >>> In article <[email protected]>, Vdz
: >>> wrote:
: >>>> Hi All,
: >>>>
: >>>> I am in a situation that I need your help.
: >>>> One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course
he
: >>>> will
: >>>> connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange
(Outlook),
: >>>> etc.
: >>>> Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this
: >>>> matter
: >>>> if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?
: >>>
: >>> Sounds like a good question to ask the company lawyer; or get a
: >>> statement one
: >>> way or the other (in writing) by your MS representative.
: >>>
: >>> Legal advice you get from forums like this is worth about what you
paid
: >>> for it
: >>> and might end up costing you a lot.
: >>>
: >>>
: >>
: >>
: >
:
:

 

[Peter Foldes]

First of all no company will allow this. Anything on the Company Server and is
installed after on said computer is the property of the said Company and if the
employee wishes to terminate his employ and or is terminated the said computer will
then belong to the Company. Such is the Law at least in the US.

 

[Tom Willett]

I don't think you read the OP properly.

: First of all no company will allow this. Anything on the Company Server
and is
: installed after on said computer is the property of the said Company and
if the
: employee wishes to terminate his employ and or is terminated the said
computer will
: then belong to the Company. Such is the Law at least in the US.
:
: --
: Peter
:
: Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
: Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
:
: : > Hi All,
: >
: > I am in a situation that I need your help.
: > One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course he
will
: > connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange (Outlook),
etc.
: > Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this
matter
: > if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?
: >
: > Thanks
:

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP]

Unfortunately what really matters is what stance the COURT will take.
And for that I think the OP needs to seek the professional advice of an
attorney licensed to practice in his area.

DISCLAIMER: I am not your attorney and this is not legal advice; merely
my educated opinion.

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com
Author - The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/5m3f5q

I take the stance that it is not up to the company to police the employee's
private computer for illegal/pirated software. The company may have the
right to refuse to let the user connect to the network if they know they
have pirated software. However, I don't see how the company can be held
responsible for the acts of individuals.

If one of our employees stole a pair of jeans from Sears and wore it to
work, why would it be our problem?

Tom
: Tapping into a business is a bit different in my book. Even in school, I
: know a lot of colleges are requiring the students to have legal copies.
:
: Plus I read this as the employee using his own system at work. Once it's
on
: their property doing work for them, it seems they have a certain amount of
: responsibility to make sure it's legal.
:
: Like I said tho, this is just my humble opinion. I am not a lawyer nor do
I
: play one on television.
:
: --
:
: JoAnn Paules
: MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
: Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"
:
:
: : >A certain amount of trust is usual in this situation, JoAnn. I am in a
: >situation where anyone with a school email address and password can log
on
: >to the school wireless network. I don't see how you could possibly
verify
: >that everyone who logged on was doing so from a computer with non-pirated
: >software. They do make you download an application that verifies that
you
: >at least have antivirus software installed and up to date.
: >
: > Earle
: >
: > "JoAnn Paules" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje de
: > noticias : >> Good advice.
: >>
: >> FWIW, if it was my opinion that counted, I would hold your company
: >> responsible because you didn't make sure that he was using a legitimate
: >> copy before allowing him access to your files.
: >>
: >> --
: >>
: >> JoAnn Paules
: >> MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
: >> Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"
: >>
: >>
: >> : >>> In article <[email protected]>, Vdz
: >>> wrote:
: >>>> Hi All,
: >>>>
: >>>> I am in a situation that I need your help.
: >>>> One of user wanted to bring his laptop in our company, and of course
he
: >>>> will
: >>>> connect to our server and all other access such as Exchange
(Outlook),
: >>>> etc.
: >>>> Let say his MS office was pirated, who would be responsible for this
: >>>> matter
: >>>> if we got audited by MS at our compnay? him or us?
: >>>
: >>> Sounds like a good question to ask the company lawyer; or get a
: >>> statement one
: >>> way or the other (in writing) by your MS representative.
: >>>
: >>> Legal advice you get from forums like this is worth about what you
paid
: >>> for it
: >>> and might end up costing you a lot.
: >>>
: >>>
: >>
: >>
: >
:
:

 

[Expert]

It all depends. If the company knew or ought to have known that the employee is
question is using a pirated software then it is their responsibility to warn the
employee to rectify the position by asking him to buy the official product from
MS or its authorized reseller.

If the company has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the machine in question
is safe in terms of all appropriate anti-virus and/or firewall are installed,
active and up to date then that is it. It is not now responsible to monitor its
employees.

The company should have its own policy on use of computers and other machinery
purely for the safety of its employees. The employees are required to sign
these as part of their Contract of Employment. Employers can't monitor its
employees all the time as it would be impractical and most probably in breach of
their human rights!

 

[Peter Foldes]

Tom

I definitely did read the post correctly. All I was doing is pointing out that once
that person that wants to bring in his laptop and connect to the Company's Exchange
Server that laptop with or without the pirated version of Office will become the
property of the Company the minute it connects to the server of said Company

 

[LVTravel]

Tom

I definitely did read the post correctly. All I was doing is pointing out
that once that person that wants to bring in his laptop and connect to the
Company's Exchange Server that laptop with or without the pirated version
of Office will become the property of the Company the minute it connects
to the server of said Company

Boy, I would really like to see legal references for that statement! There
is no private company in the US that can take legal possession of any
privately owned property. That would be called theft. Even if the owner of
the property allows someone employed by the company to use the product
(computer in this case) it still remains the property of the owner. The
government can't even take personal property without a court order (subpoena
or warrant.)

 

[vdz]

First thank you all for all responses.

We do have our own policy, and all users need to sign before we create an
account.
but now because we are merging with another compnay that does not have any
policy, nothing at all, and users can do whatever they like.

I think down the track I need to reinfoce our policy and apply to all users.

Thanks again

Regards