A business should proceed with caution when analyzing its Oracle licensing status, especially if it receives an inquiry from Oracle requesting that it complete an Oracle Server Worksheet.

Before responding to an Oracle inquiry, it is important to identify a mutually agreeable framework for the response. Work with Oracle to ensure that you know how the audit materials will be used and what Oracle expects to see in your response. Many companies have older versions of Oracle products installed and in use in their organizations. It is important to determine which version of Oracle’s license agreement will apply to any licensing analysis before providing information to Oracle.

Make sure that you are not jeopardizing your legal position before you submit a response. In many instances, your Oracle license agreement may contain a provision purporting to give Oracle the right to audit your installations and usage. Understanding your legal obligations and limiting the scope of the audit can be critical to a prompt, reasonable resolution. It can be difficult to know how to appropriately complete an Oracle Server Worksheet or otherwise respond to an Oracle inquiry.

Scott & Scott’s experienced attorneys can help your company navigate Oracle’s license management and audit processes. We can interpret your existing license agreements, help you complete an Oracle Server Worksheet, make compliance recommendations, and assist you with resolving licensing disputes.

Oracle Audit Blogs

20Aug

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Christopher Barnett  Comments (0)
The software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution-delivery model is becoming more and more widespread. Developers of all kinds of software solutions – products covering everything from office productivity, design, accounting, CRM, business intelligence and more – increasingly are...

Oracle Audit FAQ's

Q: What authority does Oracle have to conduct an audit?

A: Oracle’s Software License and Services Agreement (SLSA) & Oracle’s License and Services Agreement (OLSA) contain clauses that allow Oracle to audit a customer’s use of Oracle products.

Q: What is an Oracle Server Worksheet?

A: An Oracle Server Worksheet (OSW) is a spreadsheet that Oracle or its auditors send at the beginning of an audit to collect information about customers’ use of Oracle products. It contains requests for names of products, descriptions of the hardware environment, and number of users.

Q: What happens if a customer refuses to cooperate with Oracle’s request for an audit?

A: Oracle will continue to escalate the matter internally. Oracle may threaten to terminate the customer’s licenses for breach of the OLSA or SLSA.

 
Q: Will Oracle use its own team to conduct the audit?

A: Oracle’s license management team may conduct the audit or may decide to work with an outside accounting firm to conduct the audit.

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