Software Policy
It is Central College policy to prohibit software piracy and copyright infringements.
Copying computer software in violation of the license agreement, or receiving copied software from someone else, is a criminal act. Several relevant points can be made with regard to this issue:
- Software developers do not condone unauthorized copying in order to gain market share.
- The price of software does not make unauthorized copying justifiable. This is particularly relevant to faculty, staff, and students, who often benefit from educational pricing.
- Although the cost of improper copying or use of software is borne initially by the software developer, it is paid for ultimately by legitimate users.
The IT Services office maintains inventory records to ensure that software provided on college owned computers is properly licensed from the publisher by Central College. It is forbidden to copy or attempt to copy college owned software from these computers. Software that cannot be shown to be legally obtained is not permitted on college computers. Faculty, staff and students who violate Central College software copyright compliance policies will be subject to college disciplinary action.
Faculty and staff are free to add personally acquired software to college owned computers in their office areas but should be prepared to demonstrate that such software is properly licensed. Users should be aware that IT Services staff typically cannot support personally acquired software. All college-owned software, whether paid for with college funds, grants or other external funds, must be purchased through the IT Services office.
Users are not permitted to load software onto lab computers.
Version history
- September 2005: Recommended to the President’s Advisory Council for adoption by the Technology Committee
- June 2013: minor edits
- May 2015: Reviewed, no edits