Software licensing
Software licensing can be a contentious and complex area for IT managers, but is essential to getting value from your software investments. While new models such as software as a service (SaaS), open source and freeware offer new ways to source software, auditing and compliance for your existing software estate remain an important part of IT governance. We analyse the latest trends in this important field.
-
News
03 Dec 2025
Post Office finally investigates Horizon defect, but investigator slams comms strategy
Subpostmaster and investigator met the Post Office over Horizon defect raised six years earlier Continue Reading
-
News
02 Dec 2025
Former Post Office legal boss won’t escape police reach
Police say they will question those who evaded the public inquiry, naming former Post Office legal boss Jane MacLeod as an example Continue Reading
-
News
06 Jun 2012
Microsoft publishes its response to government open standards consultation
Microsoft has become the first major IT supplier to publish its submission to the government's consultation on the use of open standards. Continue Reading
-
News
01 Jun 2012
Microsoft softens July licence blow
Microsoft has lowered the price hike planned for July, but businesses still face paying up to 25% more for their software. Continue Reading
-
News
21 May 2012
Global software piracy increasing rapidly, study shows
Global software piracy is increasing rapidly in the absence of any effective deterrence, a survey has revealed. Continue Reading
-
News
18 May 2012
CW Buyer's Guide: IT Tools
This Computer Weekly buyer’s guide to IT tools shows how you can use software and systems to improve the running of your IT department. Continue Reading
-
News
03 May 2012
European copyright ruling good for IT innovation, say lawyers
The top European court's ruling on copyright is good news for innovation, say lawyers Continue Reading
-
Opinion
19 Apr 2012
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
-
News
18 Apr 2012
Government unaware how much it pays for e-mail services
Government departments do not know how much they are spending on e-mail services, according to research by Computer Weekly. Continue Reading
-
News
26 Mar 2012
BSA fines Coverteam UK £6,000 for unlicensed Microsoft and Adobe software
The BSA has fined power conversion company Converteam UK £6,000 for using unlicensed copies of Microsoft and Adobe software Continue Reading
-
News
05 Mar 2012
NHS trusts to be freed from CSC contract commitments
The Department of Health has proposed a deal with CSC to release trusts in the National Programme for IT from their contractual obligations to use software from the troubled supplier. Continue Reading
-
News
19 Feb 2012
Government launches CloudStore and names G-Cloud suppliers
The government has launched its CloudStore, a catalogue of 1,700 cloud-based, pre-approved IT services now available for the public sector to buy. Continue Reading
-
News
10 Feb 2012
Government takes on proprietary software lobby in open standards battle
The government wants to push through open standards against vested interests keen to maintain the dominance of proprietary systems. Continue Reading
-
Feature
01 Feb 2012
When X.509 security certificates fail, servers break
Why are X.509 certificates causing computers to stop dead? Continue Reading
-
News
30 Jan 2012
Oracle and SAP worst for government ERP cost differences
Oracle and SAP have been singled out as having the most inconsistent prices for ERP systems across government departments. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Jan 2012
Software licensing and subscription
This research from Freeform Dynamics identifies the challenges faced by IT departments and suppliers on software licensing, and offers advice. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Jul 2010
Government scraps £80m Microsoft licensing deal with NHS
The government has scrapped the long-running NHS Connecting for Health (CfH) enterprise agreement (EA) software licensing deal with Microsoft after deciding there was no business case or budget to renew it. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Mar 2007
Symantec says fixing licensing portal top priority
Company officials say help is on the way as fallout continues from the merger of Symantec and Veritas ordering systems last November. Continue Reading