Received a letter about software licensing from OBEP

Question

Copyright

Welcome all!
I think I'm not the only one who received a letter from the Economic Crime Department addressed to the head of the organization a couple of weeks ago, which told that the use of non-licensed software is punishable by this and that. Along the way, in private conversations, the software supplier (I’ve been working with them for a long time, they shouldn’t have nightmares from scratch, they don’t know about the letter from the Economic Crime Department) said that there was a request from the regional MS for a list of purchased software. Which in total gives not very pleasant expectations.

There are gaps in the licenses, like many. The missing licenses are now urgently purchased. But I'm afraid we won't have time to buy / install or clean the left software.
But no one can tell how much time there is before the check (the onset of which seems inevitable).
Does it make sense to visit the local MS office and talk like a human, for example, to consult on how it is more profitable to license and do it. Or an extra "fawn"?

It seems useless to communicate with the Department of Economic Crime, everything is important ...

I don’t really believe in a favorable outcome without checking, there is somehow too much fuss around. But I would like to avoid checking, especially if they do a scheduled check of the enterprise's activities to the heap.

The search did not lead to an unequivocal recipe, for example, to protect equipment that would be suspected of being withdrawn for examination. About the threat of a criminal case against me as an administrator, and users will no doubt tell who installed the programs, and I don’t want to think, but the amount, in fact, from 10 computers runs easily, for example, it will run from someone from one copy of AutoCAD.

In a word, I will be glad to hear your experience in such situations (besides buying licenses, this is understandable) in resolving the issue with minimal losses, both personally for the system administrator and for the organization.

Answer 1

Very accessible:
www.xakep.ru/post/54619/

Answer 2

And where did you get the idea that this is OBEP? Obep never sends out such letters, usually they are sent by some thread of the supplier's company.
Post a scanned letter or something.

Answer 3

I advise you to contact not MS, but a large regional software supplier, especially since you are already working with them, with some. Usually they have access to all suppliers and manufacturers, they can also help and advise on licensing and whitewashing software. At least this is the case with SoftLine.
The option with encryption, portable drives and other tricks that will be designed to deceive the inspectors and continue working on pirated software - I strongly advise you not to, it will lead to paranoid psychosis: every person who comes to the office will see an inspector, you will shudder from unexpected calls and hide under the bed when the sound of a siren in the street. I'm joking, but in every joke...
Again, implement the GPL or similar free software wherever possible. Please note that not all software free for home use can be used for commercial purposes (for example, FastStone - you can at home, at work - buy a license).

Answer 4

On computers with unlicensed software, put a truecrypt with encryption of the system partition

Answer 5

There is a stupid option - to go to the boss, name the amount of the fine and the cost of new small hard drives (or flash drives) for each computer. Put all the necessary licensed or free programs on these hard / flash drives, wait for the verification ... and after it return everything back. Alternatively, install a terminal server.
But the option is really stupid.

Answer 6

It was 2 years ago. A letter, a warning for the left software, and, like, wait for the check, we will come soon.
There were almost no gaps; in case, I removed music and films from people. I went through some software (archivers, file managers). I found a pair of left Windows keys on computers with normal stickers (inherited from the old admin office)
It worked out, no one came, the nerves didn’t pull ...
A little over a year ago I talked with a person from MS, they asked how many computers, what it costs, license numbers and other...
Decided to cooperate, although the dir was against it. No paperwork or requests. Phone and email only.
But I was very busy, then a vacation, then again a lot of work ... and as a result, I dynamized them for almost 3-4 months (I was even ashamed). Shot back.
As a result, they sent a PDF of the type in the office software licensed take.ms/vGbfT

Answer 7

Go to lawyers, consult what part 4 of article 12 of the Federal Law says about the police

Answer 8

> Does it make sense to visit the local MS office and talk like a human, for example, to consult on how it is more profitable to license and do it.
There is. This does not guarantee anything, for example, if the OBEPU needs to check the box, they will “check it”. But this is the easiest and most effective way to start moving towards whitewashing.

Answer 9

So what eventually came no?
entered into a licensing agreement?
and then the letter came.