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Who is liable for pirated software?

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boarslight

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Tennessee

I'm sure this has been asked a dozen times...am I, as an employee, liable for using pirated software? Or is it the company's liability?

Thanks.
 


divgradcurl

Senior Member
I'm sure this has been asked a dozen times
No, I don't think it has, at least not anytime recently...

am I, as an employee, liable for using pirated software? Or is it the company's liability?
Well, if you didn't actually make the pirated copy or otherwise load the pirated copy or own the pirated copy, then it would be pretty unlikely that you would be liable for infringement -- just using the software would be akin to watching a pirated movie -- it's not a violation of copyright to watch, the violation is in the illegal "copying" or illegal "distribution" or illegal "public performance."

However, if you had anything to do with installing the software or otherwise had anything to do with reproduction or distribution of the software without a license, then you could potentially be liable.

Note that this is different than if you are infringing on a patent -- in the case of a patent, the person using the patent may be infringing, even as an employee of a company who has told that person to use the object.
 

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