Return to News & Media
Terms of use
Why Global Software License Management is Getting Harder
It's not just the complexity of the computing environment today or the wide array of vendors with nonstandard products and licensing, it's the auditing practice that is changing the nature of software licensing and compliance the most, says Barbara Spagnola, enterprise software license manager for Computer Sciences Corporation and presenter at the upcoming SAM Summit in Chicago.
"Audit provisions in licensing agreements are something you probably didn't worry about as much five or ten years ago," says Spagnola. Today, however, Spagnola, who has negotiated hundreds of licensing contracts for some of the largest corporations on the planet, says you need two-sided audit provisions.
What are two-sided audit provisions? Spagnola says companies should no longer just concede to one-sided vendor audit language; companies must also negotiate contract terms where they can audit the provider's documentation. "Ask for provisions to check if the provider is discounting appropriately, if its pricing is correct, if its invoices are correct." Companies should also include provisions that the products remain easily discoverable—this helps with the internal license management. Although some vendors balk at this idea at first, she says, "once we discuss it, we usually tweak it a bit, then they accept it."
This is just one aspect of software license management in a global environment that Spagnola will address at the SAM Summit, June 26-28, in Chicago. Her session, Mainframe Software License Agreements, focuses on the unique challenges large companies face when executing corporate-wide enterprise software agreements. Attendees will learn new strategies for negotiations and contract provisions to help them manage their software and compliance programs more effectively.
Don't miss Barbara Spangnola's presentation at the SAM Summit. To register visit, SAMSummit.com.
Managing Editor Steven Russman
Editor Carolyn Schwaar
Published by ECP Media LC P.O. Box 1549 | Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1549 U.S.A. ECPweb.com | Office and fax: 1.734.930.1925
ECP articles are provided to IBSMA by arrangement with ECPweb.com.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter. Neither the publisher nor the author(s) is offering legal, accounting or tax advice. Although care has been exercised and every attempt made to verify the information in this publication, neither the publisher nor the author(s) is responsible for errors or omissions. Neither the publisher nor the author(s) is affiliated with nor endorsed by any organization listed here or by any subsidiary company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ITIL® is a registered trademark of the United Kingdom's Office of Government Commerce. The Certified by ECPweb.com logo is a licensed trademark of ECP Media. The publication may be printed for personal use. The publication MAY NOT be printed for distribution in a public or private venue (i.e., conferences, trade shows, direct mailing, etc.).
© 2013 ECP Media LC (ECPweb.com) No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or other) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO DISTRIBUTE OR RESELL THIS PUBLICATION IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER. THIS PUBLICATION IS LICENSED FOR PERSONAL USE. IN ADDITION TO LEGAL ACTION, THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER MAY BE CHARGED FOR ALL ILLEGAL COPIES.
