Software licensing agreements can be incredibly complex, but Mark Flynn wants to change that. Flynn is the CEO of the Campaign for Clear Licensing (CCL), a group that plans to lobby on behalf of end users.
At issue is the practice of auditing, which Flynn describes as “a fractious, unpleasant exercise, where vendors go after end-user organisations, saying you’re incorrectly licensed and you owe us more money.” These audits generate between five and six percent of the $400 billion in annual software sales industry-wide.
The CCL aims to promote clearer licensing agreements and reduce the likelihood of costly software audits. The group is currently recruiting members in the UK and plans to expand to the US and Germany within six months.
