MS Pressuring Schools: Pay Up, Or Face Audit

[alm4rr]

What they giveth, they can taketh (credit /.)

My favorite part of the article is where they say the threat letter comes from the Marketing Department - sounds about right!
"Buy our site license for all PC's and Mac's or we will shut you down. Have a nice day "

 

[StageLeft]

So microsoft wants to confirm that schools are legally using their software right? Damn them for that!

 

[pulse8]

<< So microsoft wants to confirm that schools are legally using their software right? Damn them for that! >>

I know! The NERVE of some people!

 

[tigerwannabe]

ouch, that's harsh! i feel sorry for the tech guys who are gonna be wasting their time doing this audit, instead of solving real problems.

 

[AlwaysWong]

<< So microsoft wants to confirm that schools are legally using their software right? Damn them for that! >>



Well, to be devil's advocate, they are probably doing so only because the government is on their a$$. They've gotta make the money back somehow.

 

[CaptainGoodnight]

You should really quit reading Slashdot...

 

[XZeroII]

You mean they want schools to pay for their software??? Good lord! Next thing you know, schools will have to pay for their chalk and markers and books too!

 

[brxndxn]

You guys are ridiculously sticking up for Microsoft.. MS is talking about auditing schools - sorry but some areas just don't need to be audited - especially schools.

First of all, MS should pay the schools to use their software. Why? - because it teaches people to grow accustomed to their damn software which will make them more likely to buy it in the future (unless of course they only remember how often it crashes and how MS shut down a few schools that didn't have perfect proper licensing)

Second, MS is NOT an area of the government. How can a company decide that (or threaten) to carry out an audit in which any private/public sector is ordered to comply?

Third, if MS ever did keep a school from being able to teach children computer skills, how could it survive the bad reputation that would follow? I mean, they're threatening schools!

 

[Jzero]

Quixote: "I determined that the cathedral of san fernando was in default and I placed a lein on the property."
Inquisitor1: "You did what?"
Inquistior2: "He FORECLOSED on a CHURCH!"

Honestly, I don't think MS is being the bad guy here.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

<< Second, MS is NOT an area of the government. How can a company decide that (or threaten) to carry out an audit in which any private/public sector is ordered to comply? >>



It's in the contract. Not doing so is breach of contract. Try reading the article

And um, it's their software. Yea they're total @-holes for wanting to audit their own stuff

 

[GoodToGo]

Man, talk about disgraceful and shameful bussiness practices. :|:|:|

 

[StageLeft]

<< You guys are ridiculously sticking up for Microsoft.. MS is talking about auditing schools - sorry but some areas just don't need to be audited - especially schools. >>

maybe you're right about MS should pay schools to do it, maybe you're not, but as it stands now schools are legally obliged to be paying customers. MS is merely ensuring that they do so.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

<< but as it stands now schools are legally obliged to be paying customers. MS is merely ensuring that they do so. >>

Yep, though I wouldn't give them an A+ for their methods.

 

[CaptainGoodnight]

<< Man, talk about disgraceful and shameful bussiness practices. :|:|:| >>



<sarcasm>Gasp! Making people PAY for software. Poor schools, they didn't even want MS software.</sarcasm>

Microsoft never forced this software upon them.

 

[Viper GTS]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for properly licensed software...

However...

Who the hell gives MS the right to walk into a school & tell them to audit their entire system on a moment's notice?

IMHO audits of this nature should be done once a year, if that, and during the summer. The chances of one technologically inclined student installing software on network systems is simply too great. Make sure they're proper when the school year starts, & do your best to keep them that way. Come summer break, ghost them all & start fresh.

MS is being ridiculous.

Viper GTS

 

[MadRat]

The governor of each state simply pardons the school administations for the violations and everyone lives happily ever after. Pardons can be granted even in civil courts in most states.

btw - The schools can legally CHARGE the software companies that call for the audit due compensation on time spent during the audit. The system does work both ways, not that Microsoft seems to believe they have to play by the rules.

 

[StageLeft]

<< Don't get me wrong, I'm all for properly licensed software...

However...

Who the hell gives MS the right to walk into a school & tell them to audit their entire system on a moment's notice?

IMHO audits of this nature should be done once a year, if that, and during the summer. The chances of one technologically inclined student installing software on network systems is simply too great. Make sure they're proper when the school year starts, & do your best to keep them that way. Come summer break, ghost them all & start fresh.

MS is being ridiculous.

Viper GTS >>

Well they do have 60 days to comply! :Q

 

[Viper GTS]

<< Well they do have 60 days to comply! :Q >>



25,000 systems divided by 60 days... = 417 systems per day

How would you suggest they do that?

Viper GTS

 

[UltraQuiet]

<< Who the hell gives MS the right to walk into a school & tell them to audit their entire system on a moment's notice? >>


Well if you read the article evidently it is part of the agreenment that the school system signed with MS.



<< Microsoft is well within its rights to call for an audit. Everyone says so. Everyone has read the contract >>

 

[MadRat]

Federal law gives them the right to call for an audit. The same law makes them liable for costs of the audit. I'm sure M/S feels that they will win more cases than they lose in such audits.

 

[Viper GTS]

<<

<< Who the hell gives MS the right to walk into a school & tell them to audit their entire system on a moment's notice? >>


Well if you read the article evidently it is part of the agreenment that the school system signed with MS.



<< Microsoft is well within its rights to call for an audit. Everyone says so. Everyone has read the contract >>

>>



Please read my entire sentence before you post. If you had, you might have noticed the following:

on a moment's notice

That would be the most important part of that sentence. Not that they want the audit, but that they're being ridiculous about it.

Viper GTS

 

[UltraQuiet]

<< Please read my entire sentence before you post. If you had, you might have noticed the following: >>


I did read your entire post. Your question was answered with my quote from the article.

MadRat-- What federal law gives MS the right to audit software? I thought it was only done when specific agreements such as the one in the article are spelled out in a contract or licensing agreement. I am not saying you are wrong I am simply looking for info.

 

[StageLeft]

<<

<< Well they do have 60 days to comply! :Q >>



25,000 systems divided by 60 days... = 417 systems per day

How would you suggest they do that?

Viper GTS >>

These schools all have system admins. Lets say you have 100 pcs in a school. Get the admin to audit the system which he could do in a week and then send all the results to the head guy in the school system.

 

[Hammer]

I think its ok as long as MS compensates the school for it. If they want to be able to call for an audit whenever they want, they should pay for it.

 

[Viper GTS]

These schools all have system admins. Lets say you have 100 pcs in a school. Get the admin to audit the system which he could do in a week and then send all the results to the head guy in the school system.

Actually, I doubt that is the case.

I suspect it is much more likely that one administrator handles several schools, or possibly an entire district.

Don't get me wrong, people, I am NOT condoning software piracy. I just think that MS is being a dick on this one.

Why?

1) Schools have to be one of the most difficult areas to maintain licensing requirements. Unlike a company where you can e-mail everyone & say "If you install this software on your system we will fire you," school kids have no fear - nor any real understanding of the issues involved. Many teachers probably feel the same way "it's for a good cause," etc. So is this the district's fault? The network administrator?

2) You're dealing with a severely understaffed/under budgeted entity. I still maintain that 60 days is not a reasonable amount of time, especially if one administrator is responsible for a large number of schools' networks.

There has to be a better way.

Viper GTS