C.V.O. CA's News & Views > Copyright In Software

C.V.O. Chartered & Cost Accountants' Association

Copyright In Software

Contributed by Shri Ashok Z. Dedhia

Page 2

Complying With The Copyright Laws At Low Costs

Example :

Use combination of Windows Operating System and Star Office :
If some one desires to comply with the Copyright Act in today's circumstances, and his requirement is to have operating system and an "office suit", he may consider option of using combination of Windows Operating System and Star Office. Star Office, licensed version whereof is available free of cost, can be used in place of Microsoft Office program. Other two programs that we use frequently are Microsoft Internet Explorer, licence whereof is free and Microsoft Outlook Express, which is a part of Windows Operating System.

Costs involved in using combination of Windows Operating System and Star Office :
Costs involved in using this method would be around Rs.5,000/- per computer for Windows Operating System only. Buying one Full Pack or OEM pack of Windows Operating System with paper licenses for other computers can reduce this cost further by around 10% to 15%. In case of paper licence, Microsoft allows you to use the program without giving you separate CD per licence.

Compatibility of and training for Star Office :

However, one major difficulty one may perceive here would be of compatibility of Star Office with Windows and training for using Star Office. As regards compatibility of Star Office, the same is compatible with Windows and the same can be installed and run successfully by using Windows. And with regard to training in Star Office, in my opinion, Star Office is very much same as that of Microsoft Office and contains most of the features that one use in its daily use while using excel, word or powerpoint. In fact Star Office can open Microsoft Office files and save its files in Microsoft Office formats.

Today training for Star Office is not available because the same is not in much of use. However, if group of firms/people whether at the level of association or otherwise decide to switchover to Star Office, it may be possible to peruse few computer training providers to develop skills therefor.

Other difficulty, which may arise, is that while converting Star Office document to Microsoft Office Document or vice versa, some changes may occur in the settings of the document. However, frequent happening of this may be overcome by using Star Office on all the computers in the office thus reducing need for converting Star Office Document into Microsoft Office and vice versa. And in case of an organisation may have official single user licence of Microsoft Office and install it on one of its computer so that if some document is received from outside in Microsoft Office format, is not opening properly in Star Office, then the same can be opened and worked on by using Microsoft Office.

Antivirus Program :

Now after considering above programs what remains to consider is Anti Virus program. In the present circumstances when numbers of new viruses are found every week, it has become necessary for any computer owner to have protection against the same. And in case of professionals like C.A.s and lawyers it is all the more important as their major asset lies in their computers i.e. precedents and client data. It is not enough to have an Anti Virus installed in the computer but it is also important to update the same around every week. Five user license of well known Anti Virus program with free upgrade for around two years is available for Rs.7,500/-. Single user license may be available for around Rs.2,500 to Rs.3,000/-.

In addition to above, as per the information I have, Microsoft has stopped issuing licensed copies of MS Dos long back. Now in its latest desktop operating system MS Windows XP it has reduced support to DOS and its applications. I have heard that Microsoft would in next few years stop supporting DOS and its applications. In light of the above it may be relevant for all of us, who have their data in DOS based programs like wordstar, to change over to Windows based programs. n

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Conclusion

The most vital and important factor in deciding to change over from one program to another is resistance to change. Change from what we are using now to something new though it is better or necessary. It is now time to train oneself to adapt new things with changing times.

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C.V.O. CA's News & Views

Vol.5 No. 4 mar. - Apr. 2002