DBMG - Software Copyright Compliance
- Overview
Software Copyright Compliance is an acceptable use policy for protecting copyrights of software used by university employees. Acceptable use is always ethical, reflects academic honesty, and shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It also demonstrates respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, and individuals’ rights to privacy and to freedom from intimidation and harassment.
Questions or complaints about possible violations should be sent to abuse@vt.edu.
- University Policy
- University communication and computing resources are used to support the educational, research, and public service missions of the institution. University policy requires activities involving these resources to be in accordance with the university honor codes, Employee Handbook, student handbooks, and relevant local, state, federal, and international laws and regulations.
- For use and administration to be acceptable, it must demonstrate respect of the rights of others to privacy; intellectual property rights (e.g., as reflected in licenses and copyrights); ownership of data; system mechanisms designed to limit access; and individuals' rights to be free of intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance.
- Departmental Responsibilites
- Employees must use resources only for authorized purposes.
- Employees must protect user identification names and systems from unauthorized use.
- Employees may only access information that is their own, that is publicly available, or to which they have been given authorized access.
- Employees must be considerate in their use of shared resources.
- Employees must refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading networks with excessive data, degrading services, or wasting computer time, connect time, disk space, printer paper, manuals, or other resources.
- Internal Controls
- Ensuring departmental computer systems are protected to the greatest extent possible
- Ensuring computer users are aware of the university’s acceptable use policy
- Employees may use only legal versions of copyrighted software in compliance with vendor license requirements.