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I had installed WinMerge and Notepad++ in office computer. My Manager told that I am not supposed to install these softwares in office as it is illegal. What could be the reason? I was under the impression that GPL softwares can be installed everywhere.

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Somebody's spreading FUD about open source software!?! – user26512 Jun 27 '10 at 17:08
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Your managed is simply horribly misinformed. – msanford Jun 27 '10 at 22:08
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closed as off topic by heavyd, Gnoupi, Ivo Flipse♦ Jun 28 '10 at 9:58

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

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It is not illegal, unless you develop software off of it. (Then you might be in sticky legal territory.) However, it may be against company security policy to install software that is not explicitly authorized. The company could theoretically then sue you for violating the contract under which you are working.

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Note that "off of it" means "by modifying it". The GPL does not apply to content you create by merely using the software unless you are modifying or using GPLed content. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Jun 27 '10 at 16:55
If he had installed them already himself it is a rather poorly enforced policy. :-) – jdehaan Jun 27 '10 at 17:52
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