Your Question:  When am I permitted to copy software?

Our Answer: Technically, according to the Copyright Act, you may make a single copy of the software for archival purposes.  First consideration - This is for the U.S. consumer.  In many countries (Australia, for example) it is still illegal to make a copy of any copyrighted product - even for personal use.

Second Consideration: If the copyright holder clearly states in the license that you may not make a copy - then you may not make a copy. The license is their permission, allowing you to use their product and limiting your use.

If you are not permitted to create archival copies of the product, you will either have to negotiate that right back into the license or negotiate a requirement forcing the copyright holder to replace media that is defective or lost.  There is much much more to this.  We cover it extensively in our contract negotiation program.  Let us know if you have any specific questions.

As always - keep in mind that I'm not providing legal advice.  These discussions are for tech asset managers & in language we can all understand.  Always check with your legal expert before taking any action.