Lotus Development SA, in conjunction with the Business Software Alliance (BSA), is issuing a stern warning to users of illegal software and those OEM partners selling its SmartSuite office productivity suite outside of Lotus Authorised hardware bundles.
Gregor Liddell, OEM manager at Lotus Development SA, says OEM licenses purchased separately are null and void. "Software supplied for OEM bundles is licensed by Lotus only when sold to end users together with authorised hardware components."
"The onus is upon the customer to ensure that all software purchased is legal. This can be done simply reading the accompanying documentation."
"These products should never be offered for sale separately and we want end users to know that if they are purchased independently they`re not worth the CD they are loaded on because the terms of the license have been breached."
While in the past these practices may have been overlooked Lotus is keen to ensure that OEM partners, and their customers, understand all the implications of such actions. Liddell says that at the end of the day all parties stand to lose out.
End users may stop purchasing software from OEMs as they begin to doubt the veracity of the software sold and companies on both sides of the fence who fail to heed this warning will be liable for prosecution.
While Liddell says Lotus are keen to make an example of transgressors, he is at pains to point out the software giant will do business with any OEM who acts in good faith.
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