Answer to Question 1
The most common issue is whether proper licensing agreements exist for the law firm to use each of the programs found on the computers and file server. An end user license agreement (EULA) is the agreement with the software vendor that authorizes and specifies the terms for the legal use of the software. For example, an end user license for an educational version of software is violated when used for commercial purposes. A license for one user is violated when used by multiple simultaneous users. Most trial or demo versions restrict the use of the software in the EULA. Continued use beyond the scope of the trial or demonstration period is usually a violation of the EULA.
Answer to Question 2
Operating systems contain a basic set of instructions to the computer on how to handle basic functions. The operating system controls the flow of operations and the timing of tasks. Much of the operating system is contained in the read only memory (ROM) that does not require power to run its contents. It is what allows the computer to start. Utility programs perform functions in the background related to the operation of the computer, such as viewing documents and videos, compressing and decompressing files, creating backups, or security functions such as firewalls and parental blocking. Applications enable a user to enter, store, view, modify, or extract information from files or databases, such as word processors or spreadsheets. Many are contained within an office suite. Specialty applications are industry-specific, created to perform functions for a specific need within a profession or industry.