Cupramax Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Hi peeps, Just after a bit of advice really. I'm being harrased by Microsoft to carry out a licensing review of all our computers. I am the companies registered data controller so basically its down to me to sort... I'm confident we are legal with regards to licensing their products. They are basically bullying for info and infering that if I dont give it we are in breach of our license to use their products. Are they legally able to do this as I'm so snowed under I dont have the time to audit every pc & server on the network which is what they want... Does anyone know what they are and aren't allowed to do? I've already told them to feck off once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 You're not legally required to do this. Explain your situation to them. If you're all legit, you've got feck all to worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Check that new sig... A4 B7 3.2 Cab with added Milltek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 You're not legally required to do this. Explain your situation to them. If you're all legit, you've got feck all to worry about True and untrue at the same time. You're not legally required to do it but typically MS compliance only get involved if they have a significant breach of licensing - or viable evidence of one. If they have reasonable cause and you don't comply they can cancel your volume licensing - fear that Who is asking? Is it Software Compliance or Volume Licensing? If it's VL they're just making sure your VL estimates are in line with your use. Either way, I'd be inclined to go along with them anyway. They're not usually after massive amounts of info, just a reasonable and relatively accurate list that compares well with your licensing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 I'm afraid I don't really know details but a friend of mine has recently got a job with a call center type thing working for Microsoft doing exactly what it sounds like has happened to you. Ringing up and checking licences and putting the fear of god into people, have no idea how or if you can get out of it though but he seems to think it makes a lot of people stump up for licences (he's getting good bonus packs at the moment) because they are more in fear than actually needing too ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 True and untrue at the same time. You're not legally required to do it but typically MS compliance only get involved if they have a significant breach of licensing - or viable evidence of one.If they have reasonable cause and you don't comply they can cancel your volume licensing - fear that Who is asking? Is it Software Compliance or Volume Licensing? If it's VL they're just making sure your VL estimates are in line with your use. Either way, I'd be inclined to go along with them anyway. They're not usually after massive amounts of info, just a reasonable and relatively accurate list that compares well with your licensing. Its Software compliance. The only reason they are investigating is the cretins cant seem to understand that manufacturing companies have far more staff than computers users. Our is at approx 13% usages. The convesation went along the lines of your company employs 2400 staff, why have you only got 300 licenses for blah de blah etc etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Check that new sig... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 I'd be surprised if that's the reason. Most compliance involvement is from sudden increases of activation from random sources etc. If you were to PM me your company name I definitely couldn't check. Oh no. Definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Thanks Mac but without knowing who you are and who you work for I'd rather not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Fair enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 OK, you have PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 He's shaken, not stirred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 I know who he is and who he works for.. and I wouldn't have PM'd him either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Ah well, I don't just work for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philbes Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Microsoft provide a software utility that searches your network and lists all software packages that it finds. The report can be viewed as totals, by software package or by computer. Needs little of your time to run. It's now a more than a year since I used it and i can't remember what it is called! If you detail the licenses that you have it will list any packages exceeding the listed number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) So why don't they just tell (or sell you) about that little utility. Although having that running on your servers is always a risk depending upon what it does...... B4stards! their revenuse are low due to low Vista uptake. Bill must be feeling the heat as Warren Buffet stretches his riches league total. Edited October 21, 2008 by cruiser647 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 I wouldn't ever run it on a server if I could get away with it! And if it has to be put on a server OS/member server I'd do it in a VM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted October 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 So what "little utility" would that be then Are you talking about MSIA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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