220-1102 Question 739
Single answerLicensing/digital rights management (DRM)/end-user license agreement (EULA)A small architecture firm purchased one retail copy of a PDF-editing application and installed it on five shared office PCs because only one person uses the software at a time. During a software audit, the office manager asks the technician whether this setup is acceptable under the application's licensing terms. What should the technician advise?
- A
The installation is acceptable because the software is not being used simultaneously on multiple PCs.
- B
The installation is acceptable if the users all work for the same company and the software is for business use.
- C
The installation is not acceptable unless the EULA specifically permits installation on multiple devices with a single license.
- D
The installation is not acceptable only if the application uses online DRM activation.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
This question tests the ability to apply licensing and EULA knowledge in a real support scenario. On A+ Core 2, candidates should understand that legal software use is governed by the license agreement, not by assumptions about company ownership, business use, or whether the software's DRM prevents misuse. In practice, technicians should review the vendor's EULA or licensing documentation to verify whether the license is per device, per user, subscription-based, or part of a volume/site agreement. A single retail license usually does not grant rights to install on five PCs simply because only one person uses the application at a time. Best practice is to document the current installation count, compare it to the purchased entitlements, and recommend purchasing additional licenses or an appropriate business licensing model if needed. This aligns with standard vendor licensing practices and common compliance requirements during software audits.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A common misconception is that one license can be shared across multiple systems as long as only one person uses it at a time. In most cases, software licensing is based on the number of permitted installations, devices, or users as defined in the EULA, not simply on concurrent use unless the license explicitly states concurrent-use rights.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Being in the same company or using the software for business purposes does not automatically grant the right to install one retail license on multiple PCs. Business, volume, site, or enterprise licenses may allow broader deployment, but a single retail copy typically does not unless the license terms specifically allow it.
- C. Correct.
Correct. The technician should rely on the EULA and license terms. A single retail/software license generally permits installation on one device, or on a limited number of devices if the vendor states that explicitly. If the firm wants legal use on multiple PCs, it should obtain additional licenses or a volume/site license that covers the deployment.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. DRM activation is a technical enforcement mechanism, not the legal source of usage rights. Even if software does not use DRM, or if activation does not block extra installs, the organization is still bound by the EULA and licensing agreement. Compliance is determined by the license terms, not by whether the software technically allows installation.