Assignment 7

Software License Agreements

You are on the company’s team that is launching a brand-new cutting-edge application. We know we need to include a license agreement with the sale. We want to start by looking at sample agreements from other vendors.

Obtain the license agreements for two different software packages (you can find these in the shrinkwrap envelope that comes with software and on the Internet; one needs to be for an operating system, the other can be for any application). Prepare a memo and attach a copy of both license agreements.

Compare and contrast:

1. What each license states about what the software is supposed to do.

2. What, if anything, the software licensor will do if the software fails to work as promised.

3. Limitations on the software licensor’s liability to the software licensee if the software fails to work as promised.

4. Does this limitation of liability raise any ethical issues?

5. Do you think that Microsoft has an obligation to inform its software licensees of all known “bugs” or security weaknesses in its software?