This information is based on Licensing Agreements actual on January 10 th, 2006 and regulating the order of use of 1C:Enterprise 8 system software, as well as on current legislation. The document contains the main aspects of licensing policy as to 1C: Enterprise system software, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Licensing conditions for 1C: Enterprise 8 products were developed after previous 1C: Enterprise products usage practice analysis and taking into account architectural features of the platform and extended application capabilities.
To allow wider possibilities of use of platform's features in 1C: Enterprise 8 applied solutions, individual licensing across platform applied components is not used. This provides more flexibility to mass-market solutions' developers at selection of platform tools to be used.
To secure convenient and smooth platform scalability, all products of 1C:Enterprise 8 line are divided into 4 types:
Such set of product groups allows to increase the number of workplaces and to migrate from a standalone PC to file-server based operation mode and on to client-server configuration, without the need to upgrade the basic product.
Licenses for additional workplaces with 1C: Enterprise 8 allow users to work with any number of basic kits. Therefore, in order to use new applied solutions on the same workplaces one has to purchase only a basic kit including the new solution. Thereby, independent scalability is provided for applied solutions' functionality and for workplaces.
It's not required for 1C: Enterprise 8 that one to purchase supplemental licenses to work with distributed databases, since the data exchange functionality is integrated into the platform.
In addition to user licenses and licenses for NFR-versions of the software for partners, there are special licenses for developers, which allow IT-specialists to get acquainted with 1C:Enterprise 8 platform and to develop applied solutions.
Another licensing approach has been introduced for qualitative mass market applied solutions created by developers in countries outside of CIS and Baltic States 1C:Enterprise Solutions Partner'. In this approach end-user distributive kit consists of 1C:Enterprise 8 platform and a mass-market applied solution, created by 1C's international partners for local markets.
For users' convenience in purchasing and maintenance of applied solutions all software is provided with License Agreements.
Below you'll find answers to frequently asked questions regarding 1C:Enterprise 8 licensing.
| Question: A Company has several remote branches not connected with central office LAN. Does this company have the right to install a software with ONE basic kit (platform+configuration) in the central office and in its branches, having purchased only supplemental licenses for the branches? Or it must purchase the basic kit (configuration) for each its branch? |
Answer: According to existing licensing rules, the area of lawful use of basic kit's license agreement is restricted by user's LAN where the software is installed; therefore the company should purchase a basic kit for each branch, where installation of the software is required.
There are special products, intended for use in branches, for users of those software products including Manufacturing Enterprise Management' application. The License Agreements for such products states that they may be used only by the company which has acquired Manufacturing Enterprise Management' distributive kit. Purchase prices for these products are less then those for the basic kits. |
| Q: There are several retail shops in a company, not connected with the central office, using distributed information base. How can one purchase a license to use distributed information base with 1C:Enterprise 8? |
A: There is no need in special licenses to work with distributed databases with 1C:Enterprise 8, because the data exchange mechanisms are integrated into the platform. |
| Q: There are several remote information bases in a Company, not connected to the central office LAN. They use a distributed information base built with 1C: Enterprise 8 data exchange mechanisms. Does the Company have the right to use only one basic kit (platform + configuration) in the central office, and at its locations supplemental multi-users licenses only? Or the Company should purchase the basic kit for each of its locations? |
A: According to existing licensing rules, the area of lawful use of basic kit's License Agreement is restricted by a user's LAN where the software is installed. Since the Company uses a distributed information base, i.e. the software is installed in remote PCs in the company's locations, the company should therefore purchase a basic kit for each location. If the Company uses 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' basic kit, then it's enough for its locations to purchase special MEM kit for branches, for special reduced price. At that, it's required to purchase supplemental multi-users licenses for the locations' workplaces. |
| Q: A Company's activity is performed on behalf of two legal entities with different taxation, in two information bases. All users work within one LAN. How many basic kits should the Company purchase? |
A: Since the PCs are in one LAN, then according to the rules of the License Agreement it's enough to purchase only one basic kit and licenses for necessary number of workplaces. The number of basic kits does not depend on number of information base, nor on number of legal entities. |
| Q: Two users within one Company and at one location are working with the same configuration, but with different information bases. Their PCs are not in LAN. Is it enough to purchase ONE basic kit and one supplemental license? Or the Company should buy TWO basic kits? |
A: Since the PCs are not in LAN, then according to License Agreement they should buy the basic kit for each of the PCs. So, the Company should buy two basic kits of 1C: Enterprise 8. |
| Q: Two users within one Company and at one location are working with the same configuration, but with different information bases. Their PCs are in LAN. Is it enough to purchase ONE basic kit and one supplemental license? Or the Company should buy TWO basic kits? |
A: Since the PCs are in one LAN, then according to the rules of the License Agreement it's enough to purchase one basic kit and one license for additional workplace. |
| Q: In a Company two users work with two different configurations of 1C: Enterprise 8 (for example, performing accounting and payroll calculation tasks). Their PCs are in LAN. How many basic kits should the Company purchase? |
A: In this case the Company should buy a basic kit for accounting task and another basic kit for payroll; i.e. they should purchase 2 basic kits in total. |
| Q: A Company has two offices located in two buildings, but connected with a LAN; one configuration is supposed to be used. How many basic kits of 1C: Enterprise 8 should be bought in this case? |
A: Since the offices are connected with a LAN, then according to License Agreement's conditions it's enough to buy one basic kit and a supplementary license for necessary number of workplaces. |
| Q: There are TWO groups of PCs, connected with a LAN within each group, but the groups are not connected. Should the Company purchase TWO basic kits of 1C: Enterprise 8 with the same applied solution? |
A: Yes, according to the License Agreement, a separate basic kit should be used within each LAN; i.e. the Company should buy TWO basic kits of the product. |
| Q: An auditor bought a basic kit. Can the buyer use the product to perform accounting tasks for 10 different companies? |
A: The License Agreement does not put limitations to how many information bases should be used with one basic kit. It is lawful therefore to perform accounting for ten different companies in one PC with one basic kit. |
| Q: A Company is about to use two applied solutions: 'Trade Management' and 'Payroll&HR' of 1C:Enterprise 8 system, at 5 workplaces. Is it obliged to buy two different basic kits, or it's enough to buy only one, considering there are no limitations by components in protection keys? |
A: For legal use of an applied solution a Company is ought to buy a basic kit including the configuration. Therefore, the Company must purchase two different basic kits including the configurations. Each supplemental license allows to work with two configurations at a workplace at a time. |
| Q: A Company is about to use two applied solutions: 'Trade Management' and 'Payroll and HR' of 1C:Enterprise 8 system, at 5 workplaces, and is planning to purchase proper basic kits of the products. Is it obliged to purchase supplemental licenses to access each configuration from each additional workplace? |
A: Supplemental license allows users access any configuration provided with a basic kit, within a LAN.
For the case given, apart from two basic kits, it's required to purchase only 4 licenses for additional workplaces, since the license to use a configuration at one workplace is included into each applied solution's basic kit. |
| Q: A Company has purchased 'Trade Management' basic kit and uses it in multi-user environment (with supplemental licenses). Is it allowable to install the software in a manager's portable PC not connected to the LAN, and run it with a supplemental key? |
A: If the notebook is not connected to the LAN and it's supposed to run the software simultaneously with running it in the Company's LAN, then it's required to purchase a separate 'Trade Management' basic for the notebook.
If the manager accesses Company's common information base remotely (for example, using web-interface or some remote access services), then purchasing the basic kit is not required (basing on Information Bulletin #3895 of March, 31 st, 2005)
This is also relevant to '1C:Accounting' and '1C:Payroll&HR' applications. |
| Q: A Company has purchased 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' basic kit and uses it in a multi-user environment (with supplemental licenses). Is it allowable to install the software in a manager's portable PC not connected to the LAN, and run it with a supplemental key? |
A: For users of 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' there is a special license to use the applied solution in portable PCs. This License Agreement is personified and may be used only in the company which has already purchased the basic kit including 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' configuration. In this case, a supplemental license should also be purchased for the notebook, to use 1C:Enterprise 8 software at one workplace. |
| Q: A Company has purchased 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' application and uses it in its main location at 10 workplaces. Now the Company is going to open two remote branches, with 5 workplaces each. What software should the Company purchase for legal use of the applied solution at the new workplaces? |
A: To provide proper functioning of 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' applied solution in two branches they must purchase TWO licenses for use of 'Manufacturing Enterprise Management' application in branches, and TWO supplemental multi-user licenses to use 1C:Enterprise 8 at 5 workplaces (according to the number of workplaces in the branches). |
| Q: Will the License Agreement be broken if a Company's programmer uses the protection key to perform development at his home PC at the same time with running the software in the Company's LAN? |
A: Yes, it will be. For legal use of 1C: Enterprise 8 system at a home PC in this situation it's required to buy a separate basic kit. Use of the protection key without a separate basic kit brakes the License Agreement.
As a basic kit for this case one can use the same configuration as the one purchased by the Company, or 'The Development and Implementation Specialist's Kit'. |
| Q: Will the License Agreement be broken if an IT-specialist of a Company that has purchased 1C: Enterprise 8 software basic kit performs development at his home PC before the software system is launched in the Company? |
A: The License Agreement states the following essential rule for the situation in question:
'Licensee has the right to install and use the Software according to the accompanying documentation only at one computer at a time.'
Thus, if the software is not currently used in Company's LAN and the IT-specialist cannot be described as a '3 rd party', then the License Agreement is not broken.
A Company's IT specialist which has purchased 'The Development and Implementation Specialist's Kit' can use it, too, for development of an automation system at his home PC. |
| Q: Will the License Agreement be broken if a Company's accountant uses the software, purchased by the Company as a basic kit, at home on weekends, considering the Company doesn't work on weekends? |
A: If the software is not used on weekends in the Company's LAN and the accountant is the Company's employee so cannot be described as a '3rd party', then the License Agreement is not broken. |
| Q: How many licenses are needed for MS SQL Server to use it with 1C: Enterprise 8 system in client-server mode? |
A: As stated in the License for client access to MS SQL Server: 'Each License for client access gives the right to access the Server Software from one particular PC, workstation or other digital electronic device.' Therefore, the number of licenses to use MS SQL Server should be not less then the number of users simultaneously working with 1C: Enterprise 8 in client-server mode. |
| Q: Is it allowable to use standard configurations (applied solutions) of 1C Company to create commercial mass-market configurations? |
A: A customer, or a company rendering services to the customer, has the right to create its own applied solutions on the basis of a legally purchased configuration, and use the newly created solutions for business tasks of the customer. This does not conflict with the License Agreement, since in this case the software is used according to the documentation. Duplication and distribution of such applied solution is the subject of The Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, not of the License Agreement.
According to the Law, duplication and distribution of an applied solution created using a standard 1C's configuration are allowed only with the rightholder's permission.
The mass-market solutions created with using a standard configuration's code may be supplied either with a basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8 which was used to create the solution, or to users legally owning this basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8.
One of distribution channels for such solutions may be certification of the solution for '1C:Compatible' and distribution through the partner network of 1C Company.
1C's partners members of '1C:Enterprise Solutions Partner' co-operation program have the right to develop their own configurations basing on 1C's standard solutions, compose new 'basic kit' and supply it with '1C:Enterprise 8 Technological Pack' product. The product is supplied by 1C Company to the developers according to special agreement and includes 1C:Enterprise 8 platform, English platform documentation and one-user license for the platform. |
| Q: What conditions are to be met by a developer to supply a configuration with borrowed parts of 1C's standard solutions? |
A: For this case, to comply with The Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, the user must have a license for the basic kit including the configuration used as basis by the developer.
Developers of original configurations members of '1C:Enterprise Solutions Partner' co-operation program may supply their applied solutions with the platform's '1C:Enterprise 8 Technological Pack' (including 1-user license). In this case, the basic kit is composed by the platform from the Pack and the configuration developed.
Besides, according to 1C:Enterprise 8 License Agreement, user must have Supplemental Licenses to use 1C: Enterprise 8 at the necessary number of workplaces. The Supplemental Licenses for the platform may be used for simultaneous work with any configurations: from 1C Company as well as from other developers. |
Q: Is it possible to create original configurations on 1C: Enterprise 8 platform (not using any parts of 1C's standard configurations)? Who will be the Rightholder for such original configurations?
|
A: It's allowed to create original configurations (applied solutions) on 1C: Enterprise 8 platform legally purchased as a part of a software kit. It does not contradict to the License Agreement statement to use the software in compliance with the documentation.
Developer has all copyrights for completely original configuration. Developer has the right to duplicate and distribute such configuration. According to The Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, to use such configuration a user must purchase any basic kit (from 1C's or from one of partners members of '1C:Enterprise Solutions Partner' program), including 1C:Enterprise 8 platform. |
| Q: In what case is it entirely legal to use an original configuration (not a standard 1C's one) for business automation goals? |
A: Following The Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, a Company using an original configuration for its business automation goals is obliged to purchase any basic kit of 1C:Enterprise 8 system intended for automation of companies and organizations, and which is not a special training purpose software product. In this case use of an original configuration will be completely lawful. |
| Q: A Company uses an applied solution that accesses 1C: Enterprise 8 through a COM-connection. How many Supplemental Licenses should the Company purchase in this situation? |
A: According to existing License Agreement, use of software or hardware means reducing the number of users having simultaneous access to 1C: Enterprise 8 does not reduce the number of licenses required. The Company is obliged to purchase the number of licenses equal to the number of users actually working with 1C: Enterprise 8 system at a time. |
| Q: Can one expect any changes in some points of 1C: Enterprise 8 licensing policy in the future, and appearance of some new types of licenses? |
A: 1C Company regularly discusses the questions of its software products use with its partners, at quarterly seminars. Licensing matters are also discussed at such events. By results of the discussions some decisions may be taken to introduce some new types of licenses. For example, in 2004 after discussions with partners, new licenses were introduced for IT-specialists, including special product usage conditions, and a special product was released including the platform, MEM applied solution, a license for 10 workplaces and server license. |
| Q: A Company's system administrators utilize various complex hardware and software means to access the Company's PCs, at various locations. How can one determine in such cases which solutions can be treated as one local network, and which of them different networks? |
A: In difficult situations the decision on whether one or another technical solution is a single LAN is taken on-site by a certified partner of 1C Company, which sales licenses of 1C: Enterprise 8, proceeding from analysis of a particular situation. |
| Q: A Company is gong to create an Internet shop window with 'Web-extension' application and its trade system running 1C: Enterprise 8. It is expected that up to 100 users will access it at a time. How many Supplemental Licenses should the Company purchase to create the Internet shop window? |
A: According to the actual License Agreement, the Company should purchase the number of licenses equal to the number of users actually working with 1C: Enterprise 8 system at a time.0. Use of software or hardware means, reducing the number of users having simultaneous access to 1C: Enterprise 8 (how it happens at using Web-extension) does not reduce the number of licenses required. Therefore, to create the Internet shop window the Company should purchase 100 licenses. |
| Q: A Company has a LAN, where a basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8 is installed and used, and some remote offices not connected to the central office and its LAN. The software is not installed, and information bases are not created at the remote workplaces, but they access the information base in the central office by means of VPN (Virtual Personal Network). Should the Company purchase basic kits for its remote offices, corresponding to the basic kit purchased for the central office? |
A: According to Information Bulletin #3895 of March 31 st, 2005, considering that information bases are not created in remote offices, it's not necessary to purchase basic kits for such remote offices. According to the License Agreement, the access to the information base is allowed if a remote workplace is provided with a license to use 1C: Enterprise 8 system at the workplace. |
| Q: A Company has a central office with a LAN, where a basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8 is installed and used, and some remote offices which are not connected to the central office's LAN. Local information bases are not created at the remote workplaces, and access to the central office's information base is implemented by means of a terminal client (i.e. the application is running on the central office side). Should the Company purchase basic kits for its remote offices, corresponding to the basic kit purchased for the central office? |
A: According to Information Bulletin #3895 of March 31st, 2005, and considering that information bases are not created in remote offices, it's not necessary to purchase basic kits for the remote offices. According to the License Agreement, such way to access the information base is allowed if the remote workplace is provided with a license to use 1C: Enterprise 8 system at this workplace. |
| Q: At first, a Company purchased a basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8 and a Supplemental License Kit for 5 users. After some time the Company purchased another Supplemental License Kit for 10 users. At present, the Company needs 20 workplaces for 1C: Enterprise 8; at that it's required that there would be minimal number of protection keys in the LAN. Is it possible for the Company to turn in the licenses it has for 5 and 10 users and purchase 1 license for 20 users instead? |
A: Yes, it is possible. The Company should contact any 1C Company's partner with a request to make such exchange. At that, the value of the licenses turning in will be accounted according to the number of workplaces covered by them. (See the Information Bulleting #4151 of June 28 th, 2005). |
| Q: A Company purchased a basic kit of 1C: Enterprise 8 and a Supplemental License Kit for 5 users; after a time, it purchased two more licenses for 5 and 10 users. Is it possible to exchange all the licenses to 20 workplaces? How much will such exchange cost? |
A: Yes, it is possible. The Company should contact any 1C Company's partner with a request to make such exchange. The exchange cost (not including the price for partner's services) can be calculated according to the table present in the Appendix to the Information Bulletin #4151 of June 28th, 2005. |
| Q: A Company has purchased a software kit like '1C: Enterprise 8 for 10 users + client-server' and a separate Supplemental License Kit for 10 users. Is it possible to exchange the licenses to a supplemental multi-user license for 20 workplaces? |
A: According to the Information Bulletin #4151 of June 28 th, 2005, it's not possible to exchange the licenses in this situation, since the Company acquired a bundle provided with a common license to use the applied solution, 1C:Enterprise 8 and the client-server, and it's not possible to extract from this only the 10-users license (or any other license). This is the reason why bundled software kits are not accepted to the exchange procedure. |
Q: At first, a Company purchased basic kits of '1C: Enterprise 8. Trade Management', '1C:Payroll&HR' and a Supplemental License Kit for 20 users. After some time the Company's HR department moved to other location, with a separate LAN. Is it possible for the Company to turn in one 20-users license for 2 licenses 10 workplaces each, to let its employees work normally in different LANs? |
A: Yes, it is possible to replace a license with several ones, all together covering the number of users not less than the license being replaced. The Company should contact a 1C's partner, turn in the license for 20 users and receive the required number of licenses covering 20 workplaces in total. Details of the procedure and the costs are described in the Information Bulletin #4151 of 28/06/2005. |
| Q: A Company decided to increase the number of workplaces with 1C: Enterprise 8 from 30 up to 50 through an exchange of Supplemental Licenses. Would the Company have to suspend functioning of the automation system? |
A: No, it wouldn't. The license exchange procedure is arranged so that for the period of the exchange the exchange operator (a 1C's partner) should provide so called 'exchange key', that is intended to support normal system functionality before the Company receives new licenses. Details of the procedure and the costs are described in the Information Bulletin #4151 of 28/06/2005. |
