I would like to draw your attention to the HECN Site License Code of Ethics policy article below. Please read carefully because it does mean you.
We have added several pages to the Software Licensing site. The first is a Code of Ethics page. This page is part of the North Dakota University System (NDUS) policy manual for all HECN campuses. The responsibilities of anyone that uses NDUS owned equipment are outlined. There is a link to the NDUS policy manual, which will give the entire section covering software usage including duplication and/or installation.
It is important that each member of your department is aware of these policies. Each individual is responsible for the software installed on their machines/workstations.
| * | If you don't have a license for the product - don't install it. |
| * | For shareware software - either buy the license or uninstall it when the trial period is over. Just leaving shareware titles on your machine after trial period expirations is considered pirated software.....if it doesn't work - get rid of it. |
| * | If you have annually renewable software on your machine but have not renewed it 'because it still works' --- you need to renew it or remove it. It's kind of like driving on a expired drivers license....law enforcement officials tend to frown on that as do software companies. The penalties are less for the drivers' license infringement...... |
| * | If your department is ever audited...you will need to have proof of purchase for each copy of a software title that is installed. Having the CD is not proof of purchase. Your receipt (paid invoice, cash register receipt, etc.) is your proof of purchase. |
Also added were several pages for our specialty software, like SPSS, Mathematica, etc. These pages will give you information on the product, where to find additional information and the dates covered by the non-prorated, annually renewable licenses.
All of the new pages can be accessed from the Software Licensing homepage: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/its/software_licensing/software.html.
Code of Ethics link can be found at the top of the center section. Specialty pages can be found under the Other Services category also found in the center section. HECN Software Licensing - Software Code of Ethics, Software Licensing Program, HECN Software Users Code of Ethics.
The purpose of the code of ethics is to state the HECN's policy concerning software installation and duplication. All employees shall use software only in accordance with the license agreement. Any other duplication of licensed software except for backup and archival purposes is a violation of the law. Unlawful duplication of copyrighted computer software violates the HECN's standards of conduct.
| * | All software must be used in accordance with the license agreements. |
| * | No employee (faculty/staff/student) of HECN will make any unauthorized copies of any software under any circumstances. |
| * | Anyone found unlawfully copying or installing software is subject to institutional disciplinary policies and may be subject to civil and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. |
| * | No employee (faculty/staff/student) shall give software to any non-HECN employee, including clients, customers and others. |
| * | Any employee (faculty/staff/student) who determines that there may be a misuse of software within their institution/department shall notify their campus computer center/help desk or campus counsel. |
| * | All software used by the HECN on HECN computers will be properly purchased through appropriate procedures. |
Please see the North Dakota University System Policy Manual, Section: 1901.2 Computing Facilities for additional information.