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License Control

The process of creating a license for a product release is a collaborative process in the company. The legal department needs the correct information to create a license for a software/software-release, and who can help them? Those responsible for the solution's development.

Agile vs Licenses​

One of the most used tools in the software development process is the agile methodology. How could we include license control in the delivery of the product to production?

In the development process, various third-party libraries and code are used along the way. How to ensure that these third-party products will not impact the final product's license?

To solve this problem, it is essential to develop a strategy adapted to the complexities of the situation. Unfortunately, there is no definitive solution that can be applied in all cases. It is essential, however, to ensure that information about third-party products involved in the project reaches the department responsible for the final packaging of the solution in time to generate the final product license for production.

Important items that can help you not get lost in the process:

  • Create intellectual property training for the entire company.

  • Have a strategy so that employees are able to disclose what they are using.

  • A responsible department is needed to evaluate whether the third-party license will impact the software or has any incompatibility with any other license.

  • A good strategy is to have a form, to be filled out by the employee, with all the data necessary for an inventory of third-party intellectual properties. This will make it easier for the legal department to generate release licenses and will maintain a product history.

  • In the case of the legal department, a document attached with the licenses could be used, and this document would come from the completed form, thus avoiding constantly modifying the license document.

  • Generate a digitally signed document by the solution maintainers that forces them to fill out the forms correctly and attach it with the final licenses.

  • Have a database just to store information coming from employees.

  • Do not allow the use of free software licenses except if extremely necessary, as it may impact the entire project.

  • Create a review strategy before releasing the releases.

disclosure