To meet the company specter Audit – Computer Week

The number of Business Software Alliance (BSA) – the trade association for the software maker – are clear: In Germany, nearly a quarter of the software used is not licensed or wrong, in Western Europe around 30 percent and worldwide even almost 40 percent. Software vendors therefore escapes every year immense sales.

license agreements typically contain . A separate audit clause of the manufacturers the right to carry out audits unannounced
Photo: lexkopje-shutterstock.com

The legal basis for the auditing of licenses in use is clear: are Copyright Rules governing the use and dissemination of intellectual property before – and this includes software. In Germany governed by § 101 of the Copyright Act (Copyright Act) to claim a copyright on information. Therefore, a producer has the right, at a customer to check the proper license use. Denied this is the audit, the manufacturer can even arrange a tour through an injunction.

A license audit is usually initiated by the manufacturer. In rare cases, the test is even arranged by the district attorney or another lawyer channel. The BSA tries to prevent such false Licensing and piracy. Manufacturers may freely decide who carries out the audit – its own staff, outside experts, or independent auditing firms like KPMG or Deloitte

audits are now standard of the major manufacturers.. Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP – each of the manufacturers regularly audited its customers. Microsoft, for example, plans to each of its major contracts, such as Enterprise Agreements, Select Plus agreements or Microsoft Products and Services Agreements, even to audit during the term. It develops slowly and regularity audits are probably soon become standard. The observation shows that Microsoft is certainly one of the Audit Leader. But other manufacturers are here in every way.

1. software trends – licenses, subscription models, freemium offers
   With the increasing use of SaaS solutions switching to subscription models goes hand in hand. Have traditional license models become obsolete? Leading software vendors provide answers
2. What changes will we see in the different target groups with regard to licensing, Freemium- and subscription models
   Hakan Yüksel – Oracle.?: “Oracle is pursuing the path of a maximum cost transparency for the customer, so that the projects are also so predictable as possible. In our view, only this transparent subscription models will survive in the long term.”
3. What changes we will see at the different target groups with regard to licensing, Freemium- and subscription models
   Peter Dewald – Sage: “Our strategy is not without reason our focus on cloud offerings in the subscription model: These models have the great advantage that large cost omitted. Such costs can just make small and medium enterprises financing difficulties. “
4. What changes we are at the different target groups with regard to licensing, Freemium- and ABO experience models
   Sven Denecken – SAP: “We are heading for a” subsciption economy “to. In this respect, this licensing model will dominate in the future. This model corresponds to a “subscription model”, which also generates very predictable revenue. “
5. What changes will we see in the different target groups with regard to licensing, Freemium- and subscription models?
   Günther Igl – Microsoft: “This will also remain important in 2015: We make productivity platform and across systems possible and be sure to offer attractive, flexible, low-threshold and low-cost licensing models.”
6. What changes will we see in the different target groups with regard to licensing, Freemium- and subscription models
   Markus Draenert – Lexware: “Generally, there are more and more business models that move towards more transparent subscription products. It is above all a matter of being fair and transparent to the customer, there must be no more hidden costs “

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audits Elements of the contract – with all the consequences

The rights of the manufacturer are documented in a rule in the contract with the customer. The focus is on the collection and analysis of the licensing situation. Therefore, the customer must provide an overview of the software products he uses and what licenses he has acquired. An audit may only products undergo that have been acquired over the audited contract

For Microsoft products means that, for example:. OEM Software and package products must not Microsoft check. Only when these are in addition equipped with update licenses from volume license agreements, they change to a volume license. Only then Microsoft has the right to review these licenses. With the signing of a volume license agreement, the customer agrees to be properly licensed and to document the terms of license and the license inventory daily basis.

Important for corporate users

A false licensing may have serious consequences. It adheres always the one who carried out the infringement. In the company’s corporate management. Depending on the legal form can for example be a shareholder, director or manager. In rare cases, the criminal law is applied. So fines and even prison sentences of up to five years may be imposed.

The greatest risk are sure the unbudgeted spending on licenses. Depending on the degree of false Licensing large payments may be due. Some manufacturers also take retroactive maintenance costs to complete, covering the terms of license for past years. In addition to increasingly, customers accept the audit costs.

1. What deserves a software developer, …
   … depends not only on qualifications and experience. It is also crucial, in what industry he works and is located in the region from which the employer. This resulted in a current content analysis of personnel market, the nearly 4200 developers auswertete data.
2. … make software developers on average in Germany.
   puts them well above system administrators. Compared to consultants developers earn but worse.
3. In banks developers deserve …
   … with just under 65,000 euros a year by far the best.
4. Even insurance …
   … reward their software developers with an average of 60,763 euros a year still above average.
5. At the Medical Developers …
   … with an annual salary of 60,588 euros is also very good earning prospects.
6. In the mail …
   . .. have developers on the other hand be satisfied with good 46,000 euros a year.
7. are just as bad, the salary prospects …
   … of developers in research institutions (45 753 Euro ) …
8. … and in educational institutions. Here
   software developers can expect 45,000 euros per year.
9. The hip advertising industry is not hip in terms of payment.
   In advertising and PR agencies get developers barely 43. 000 euros per year, and thus EUR 21,000 less than their colleagues who work in a bank.
10. … get software developers, have the Personal Responsibility
    This shows:. leadership pays off. Senior developers earn almost twice as much as developers without personnel responsibility.
11. … get software developers …
    … in medium-sized companies, the employees 101-1000 deal.
12. … make software developers …
    … however in large companies that employ more than 1000 employees. Also for other IT occupations applies:. The larger the company, the higher the remuneration
13. … get software developers …
    … after six to nine years of professional experience. Beginners start at 41,000 euros a year.
14. … deserve experienced software developers, …
    … the nine years and more active in their profession are
15. But also the headquarters influenced the salaries of developers
    The best earnings prospects opened Hesse or the banking metropolis Frankfurt:.. Here they can count on 61,000 euros.
16. Even in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart pictured here, …
    … are software developers on average paid with an annual salary of nearly 59,000 euros.
17. in Munich and Bavaria …
    … get developers with 57,300 euro even more than in the rest of the country.
18. Berlin developers …
    … can count on an average just under 52,000 euros and are thus exactly in the middle.
19. In Magdeburg and Saxony-Anhalt. ..
    … the earning opportunities on the other hand significantly worse: Developers have to make do with nearly 42,000 euros and earn 20,000 euros less than their counterparts in Hesse
20. . Also in Erfurt and Thuringia …
    … get developers with 41,300 euros nearly 20,000 euros less than in neighboring Hesse.
21. Rostock and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are the taillight …
    … when it comes to developer compensation: Here programmers get 40,000 euros

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In the course of an audit co-operation with the auditor is the best strategy. The requested information should be provided promptly. Otherwise, the customer wakes up the suspicion that he hiding something. The willingness to work together according to experience strongly influenced the further course of the audit. Of course, discovered under licensing must be immediately compensated.

The best way to prepare proactively for a possible audit before. A license management plan should be created on a regular basis, before any audit is announced. Because more time is available, the data recording is accurate and systematic, the quality of the results improved. In addition can be carried out based on the optimization and remove no longer used items from inventory – in an audit, this is no longer possible. (BW)

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