Software Piracy - who is responsible?

Querist : Anonymous (Querist) 14 November 2010 This query is : Resolved
If IT Manager or the Senior Manager of a company was forced to install pirated software by the company owner and later claims innocence in the compliance audit and puts entire blame on the IT Manager or the Senior Manager what is the legal remedy for it?

If company owners are tyrants-like and clever enough to avoid any proof, how to tackle such situation from the employee / manager point of view?

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A V Vishal (Expert) 14 November 2010
The employer is vicariously liable for the acts of his employee and cannot escape blame that he is not responsible for the acts of his employees inside the office premises, if you know that the company is installing pirated software ten bring it to the notice of all concerned by way of email/in written so it can be authentic to prove the malafide intentions of the employer.

Parthasarathi Loganathan (Expert) 14 November 2010
Though employer is liable, again the blame will be shifted to the employee. Then I would advise as under:
Software piracy harms unsuspecting customers, legitimate businesses, and our economy. By providing the following information, you can help software owner of software who is committed to protecting the privacy. Before that the user should the contents of Privacy Statement issued by the company.

The counterfeit report you submit will be treated by the company as confidential who will take care to devote substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.

The Counterfeit agency will mail you the examples of counterfeit software in three categories (low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade counterfeits). The more you know about counterfeit software, the easier it will be for you to ensure you always use the genuine software. In that way your action is protected and the employer will become responsible for the usage of Software at a later date. This has to be dealt with very confidentially.

Kirti Kar Tripathi (Expert) 14 November 2010
agree with Vishal. the employer is liable for acts of employee conducted by him informational of his employment.