Ask HN: My manager is asking me to violate MS licensing. What should I do?

Re:Ask HN: My manager is asking me to violate MS licensing. ... by Someone1234 on Thursday September 24, 2015 @01:09PM (#10272917)

1) Yes. Microsoft/BSA can require/force an audit[0].

2) Microsoft/BSA can fine the company[0].

3) Civil. It is only criminal if the company was producing pirated materials for profit (e.g. pumping out cracked copies of Windows to sell on eBay). The BSA normally sues companies in civil courts and extracts license fees and fines.

4) You have no personal liability from Microsoft. Between Microsoft and the company it is a contract dispute. However arguably if the company you worked for did get sued and lose a good chunk of change, they could in turn try to sue you, but I've never seen that and it is pretty easy to CYA via documenting the issue for them.

Overall I'd say that as an individual employee you have little to no exposure (other than getting fired). As a contractor "it depends" on what you did and didn't do (since a contractor can be treated like a stand alone entity, and blame can be shifted in part or entirely onto them).

[0] http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/applications/sme-fined-2...

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Re:Ask HN: My manager is asking me to violate MS licensing. ... by acomjean on Thursday September 24, 2015 @08:30PM (#10275770)

BSA = Business Software Alliance They can call in audits (its part of the software licencing agreement.. They are a nightmare.. A friend many years ago had to deal with them when someone was fired and dropped a dime on his company.

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