Guidance

Rule 18: ICT shall have appropriate software licenses procured and managed through life

Updated 16 October 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-service-publication-jsp-604-network-rules/rule-18-ict-shall-have-appropriate-software-licenses-procured-and-managed-through-life

The rules are under review and subject to change.

1. Rule rationale

Software licensing requirements must be adhered to through life or defence could be using software illegally and subject to vendor claims

Software licensing is a contract of agreement between the software publisher and the end user, sometimes referred to as End User License Agreement (EULA).

Software licensing protects the copyright by placing restrictions on the end user in relation to the product.

  1. Software licences

Initial gate

  • Project shall identify the requirement to acquire software licenses

*Project shall identify the requirement to manage software licences through life within the Through Life Management Plan

Main gate

  • Project shall identify the requirement to acquire software licenses

  • Project shall identify the requirement to manage software licences through life within the Through Life Management Plan.

PDR

  • Project shall identify the requirement to acquire software licenses

  • Project shall identify the requirement to manage software licences through life within the Through Life Management Plan

CDR

  • Project shall identify the requirement to acquire software licenses

  • Project shall document how the required software licences are managed through life within the Through Life Management Plan

TRRA

  • Projects shall provide evidence that the required software licenses have been acquired

  • Project shall document how the required software licences are managed through life within the Through Life Management Plan

AtO

  • Projects shall provide evidence that the required software licenses are in force through life

  • Project shall document how the required software licences are managed through life within the Through Life Management Plan

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