software licensing

A company usually gets on the BSA list when an employee or former employee complains to the BSA.

If the BSA comes in to perform an on-site audit, they will want to see the licenses for every program on every PC in the facility.

So long as the programs on your personal PC DO NOT have the same license numbers as those used by the company, you should be okay.

If they are at all suspicious, they may ask you to provide proof of your licenses.

As to protecting yourself, have your supervisor provide you written orders to install any illegal software.
Of course, that request may get you fired. Proceed with caution.

Chas

boss refuses to sign anything so i guess i'm screwed.
auditing pcs to ensure compliance would be easier with full participation too. the computer they use at work is personally owned, so for all i know its full of pirated software.

To add to TheChas's comments:

Regardless of whether you can get anything in writing from management, document everything (for your own safety).

Any fines/judgements/penalties assigned by the BSA or the courts are against the company, not an individual.

This of course won't save your skin as far as the company is concerned. You would most likely end up being the scapegoat in the event of an audit. Any documentation you have may not save your job, but at least it's something you could show to prospective future employees (as well as the BSA and the courts) to prove you "tried to do the right thing."

As far as personal computers go, BSA will probably assume all computers on the premises of the company being audited are company-owned, unless proven otherwise (proof of purchase).

Private users/Personal computers are also subject to audit, although this happens rarely. It usually isn't economical for the BSA to audit individuals.

You might want to check out the BSA website (www.bsa.org) to learn more. You can contact them anonymously to get some of your questions answered.