Opinion

Opinion

Software licensing

• Why Brexit will make software licence transfers and database copyright harder for UK firms

  Brexit will make it more difficult for UK companies to sell unused software licences and to enforce their database rights in Europe. Firms will face a legislative disadvantage over AI-generated databases  Continue Reading

• The five tenets of quality ITAM

  At the end of last year we looked at some of ITAM’s failings. This time we explore how to improve ITAM  Continue Reading

• HANA or ‘na’?

  With alternatives abundant, many organisations are holding off on enterprise software upgrades  Continue Reading

• What is wrong with ITAM?

  IT asset management should be an important pillar in an organisation's digital transformation journey, but it doesn't seem to be working  Continue Reading

• Digital advancement means we're measuring the economy wrong

  When accountants work out how much UK business is investing in the future, it's stuck in a world of depreciated assets – ignoring the huge changes brought about by cloud and software as a service  Continue Reading

• SAP Document Licensing for Indirect Access: The risks that still won't go away

  SAP introduced a new licensing scheme last year to reflect indirect access to its system from third-party systems based on document licensing  Continue Reading

• Tips for minimising the impact of the Microsoft Office price rise

  Microsoft has “adjusted” prices with Office 2019, making it more expensive to buy on-premise versions of its products  Continue Reading

• Are SAP’s indirect use charges legal?

  The German legal system is examining whether SAP can legitimately charge for indirect access to its software from a third-party application  Continue Reading

• Intellectual property in an AI world

  The controversial European Copyright Directive has gone back to the drawing board, but it raises important questions about the use of artificial intelligence in protecting individual rights  Continue Reading

• Why software giants are failing

  Oracle’s latest financial results illustrate that the core businesses of many of the software behemoths of the past are under strain  Continue Reading

• SAP licensing – reassuringly expensive?

  SAP’s recent settlement with AB InBev has again put audits and licensing under the spotlight. We look at how to get the best value and avoid fines  Continue Reading

• How to make the most of your SAP licences

  There is no point in paying for something you never use – or worse, using the wrong licence. Doing the bare minimum for SAP licence management is not enough  Continue Reading

• How to achieve a healthy, balanced relationship with your ERP provider

  Observing the enterprise software market today is like observing a major relationship crisis where one side is failing to listen to the other  Continue Reading

• The high price of not understanding how automation works with existing software licences

  Businesses must check their software licences before they introduce robotic process automation or they risk breaking the rules  Continue Reading

• Open source for hybrid cloud success: Is it an open and shut case?

  Quocirca’s Clive Longbottom ponders whether enterprises need to adopt an open source-first strategy for hybrid cloud success  Continue Reading

• Beware of Oracle’s developer Trojan Horse

  The Oracle Technology Network allows developers to prototype applications for free, but there is a catch when it is time to deploy  Continue Reading

• Acquiring public sector software systems – an alternative role for GDS?

  Controlling and measuring software systems in government is notoriously difficult, so could a healthcare model offer a better alternative?  Continue Reading

• Graph databases: What are the benefits for CIOs?

  With enterprise interest in graph databases on the rise, Clive Longbottom explains why some businesses are favouring them over relational setups  Continue Reading

• A plan for managing public-sector IT costs

  The 2015 spending review is set to put further pressure on the public sector. Are there easy cuts public-sector CIOs can make?  Continue Reading

• Driving digital productivity in the UK

  There is a need for British businesses to improve their adoption of digital technologies  Continue Reading

• Time for DevOps to get out of the weeds

  Software and service providers face a battle to deliver new products, features and capabilities faster than ever  Continue Reading

• Watch out: Oracle plants $23,000 licensing booby trap in 12c upgrade

  Oracle will charge $23,000 per processor if you inadvertently switch on the in-memory database option  Continue Reading

• Buyer beware: second-hand user licences mired in uncertainty

  Despite a recent European Court of Justice ruling on the sale of used software, second user licensing remains a contentious subject  Continue Reading

• User acceptance testing needs real training, not just a short course

  In spite of its importance, user acceptance testing (UAT) is often chaotic, problematic and ineffective  Continue Reading

• The politics of software asset management

  A software asset manager's tips on convincing people they really don'y have to run the software they insist is essential.  Continue Reading

• How to handle a software audit

  Software audits are an irritating and time consuming part of life. To survive one unscathed you'll need a thorough understanding of your licensing requirements.  Continue Reading

• Forrester: Tips for software contract negotiation

  Forrester's Mark Bartrick offers four essential tips on negotiating successful IT contracts  Continue Reading

• Managing shadow IT

  Shadow IT is the use of IT systems within an organisation without the approval, or even the knowledge, of corporate IT. What should you do in response?  Continue Reading

• Does Microsoft need to change its policy on Windows upgrade pricing ?

  Microsoft will needs to reduce the cost of Windows upgrades if it is to conquer the tablets market, writes Andrew Buss.  Continue Reading

• EU court legalises second-hand software

  In a landmark decision, the European Union Court of Justice ruled that the reselling of used software licences is legal.  Continue Reading

• Government open standards proposal fails the 'so what?' test

  The consultation on open standards in government IT is generating a lot of discussion, much of which misses an important point: so what?  Continue Reading

• Open standards are about the business model, not the technology

  Software companies, abuzz with lobbyists and patent lawyers over government open standards, are similar to the record industry 10 years ago.  Continue Reading

• An insider's view on the government open standards consultation

  Andy Hopkirk chaired the first public meeting of the government's open standards consultation. He gives his report on the debate.  Continue Reading

• Seven ways to reduce SAP licensing fees

  Given today's recession, companies are taking a harder look at their ongoing costs. IT executives are being challenged to innovate within current budget...

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• Microsoft licensing programme promises bigger software discounts

  Microsoft is launching a new enterprise...  Continue Reading

• Licensing for today's world

  Getting a grip on software licensing complexity is a challenge that IT users and their suppliers cannot afford to shirk.  Continue Reading

• Chance to have a say on licensing

  Microsoft's planned revamp of its Software Assurance subscription licensing programme in September will fuel debate among IT directors across public and private sector organisations. Does it suit your organisation in terms of the frequency of ...  Continue Reading

• Peace breaks out in the datacentre

  The settlement of the long-standing dispute between Sun and Microsoft over Java licensing is welcome news. Software, hardware and...  Continue Reading

• Free MS upgrades are meaningless to most users

  It was a momentous week: there was darkness at noon, the undead walked the streets, and Microsoft Licensing v6 came into effect.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day:Licensing is like being politely mugged

  Hard-hitting IT commentator Dr Simon Moores gives his personal take on the hot issue of the day.  Continue Reading

• Software prices: haggle looking forward not back

  The furore about Microsoft's new software licensing conditions has been remarkably shallow. Although there have been many...  Continue Reading

• We have users' interests at heart

  Last week Computer Weekly published a selection of user responses to Microsoft's licensing terms. Here, Duncan Reid from...  Continue Reading

• Users speak out on cost of licence changes

  Microsoft did not give way on its licence changes and businesses living with the consequences have contacted Computer Weekly to...  Continue Reading

• Staff put bosses in jail jeopardy says BSA

  Licensing watchdog the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has warned managing directors that staff are putting them at risk of...  Continue Reading