Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13103: Computer Software Piracy

President: Bill Clinton

Required agencies to use lawful software and set procedures, performance measures and staff training to support compliance.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13103 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13103 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13103 do?

EO 13103 directed agencies to acquire and use only software that did not violate applicable copyright law. Agency heads had to establish compliance procedures, assess performance and educate staff; the procedures could include software inventories, checks on authorized use and adequate records. The Chief Information Officers Council was to recommend government-wide measures, while OMB provided oversight. Contractors and recipients of federal financial assistance were asked to maintain appropriate controls, and agencies could take appropriate action if misuse of federal funds affected program integrity. The order directed executive-branch management; it did not create new private rights or replace copyright law.

Administration position: The order required agency procedures and staff education; it did not itself create a new copyright offense or private cause of action.
SignedSeptember 30, 1998
Agency leadAgency heads, with CIO Council recommendations and OMB oversight
Core controlAcquire and use software consistent with copyright law

Before and after

Before the order

Federal agencies were already subject to copyright law, but the order set a government-wide software-management policy.

After the order

Agency heads were to use compliance procedures, performance measures and staff education.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Agency headsMaintain controls and authorized softwareContinuing policy
CIO CouncilRecommend practices and performance measuresImplemented
OMBUse oversight to evaluate complianceContinuing authority

What happened next

EO 13103 established the government-wide policy.

The National Archives disposition table listed no express revocation for EO 13103.