The Practical Guide to Software Licensing and Cloud Computing, 7th Edition

While I do not tend to review products, I make the effort now to highlight this book. I had my eye on it for years, but no real need. However, as my practice has come to encompass substantial software license and contract review, I found a dearth of material to educate me on the myriad issues that arise in these sorts of transactions. While I have purchased a number of books that address aspects of software licensing, what I needed was a comprehensive discussion on the topic and the real-world risks and risk mitigation strategies. Ever since I worked up the nerve to open my wallet for it, this 7th Ed. of Classen's Practical Guide has been my one-stop source. As an example, I was able to get a quick rundown on insurance provisions as I reviewed my counterparty's redlines. I learned concisely and quickly what otherwise may have taken a full day to understand barely.Let me be clear on what I mean by "comprehensive." I have another few other texts that fully cover the basic infrastructure of a software license agreement. However, most of these books are written from the limited perspective of the software customer and lack a complete discussion on particular contractual clauses. What I like about Classen's book is that it highlights common issues you might encounter with a given contract provision from the perspective, e.g., of the software vendor and the customer. Or, the concerns a customer should address in using a given contractual scheme.If you're a novice or just need the rationale to support your position in a contract negotiation, this may be the right text for you.