WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 17, 2009-- As part of its ongoing effort to ease the burdens associated with software asset management (SAM), ModusLink Open Channel Solutions, Inc. (ModusLink OCS), a leading provider of e-business and entitlement management solutions, today announced it has joined with CA and Symantec to co-found TagVault.org. TagVault.org is a non-profit organization focused on formulating universally recognized standards for software identification and is part of IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization.

Software publishers spend significant time and money conducting audits to ensure license agreement compliance. These efforts are complicated by inconsistencies in software identification tags across vendors and platforms. As such, software publishers, software purchasers and SAM tool providers all have a vested interest in formulating industry-recognized standards for software identification. TagVault.org was created to address that need.

TagVault.org is a technical, member-driven organization that will serve as the certification authority for ISO/IEC 19770-2 software identification tags (SWID tags), which provide identifying information for installed software or other licensable items. The organization will also allow software publishers, software purchasers and SAM tool providers to collaborate and share technical information and resources, including consistent cross-vendor, cross-platform APIs.

According to Steve Klos, executive director of TagVault.org, “TagVault.org will serve as an independent, software agnostic organization to help all SAM constituencies address the inconsistencies in software identification tags. The organization has been widely embraced by software publishers, purchasers and inventory tool providers and we will move quickly to fulfill our goal of easing license entitlement reconciliation.”

ModusLink OCS will work alongside other members of TagVault.org to formulate and finalize the ISO/IEC 19770-2 standard. ModusLink OCS will contribute its expertise and insight on how software is developed, marketed under licensing programs, distributed and deployed in enterprise settings. ModusLink OCS brings to the endeavor a practical understanding of the back-office operations for managing and controlling software within the enterprise and the challenges at each step.

“We help our clients manage the complexities within the software licensing market,” said Mathieu Baissac, chief technical officer of ModusLink OCS. “Our work with TagVault.org is yet another example of our commitment to making that process as easy and cost effective as possible for software vendors.”

For additional information about TagVault.org, please visit www.tagvault.org.

About ModusLink Open Channel Solutions

ModusLink Open Channel Solutions, Inc. (ModusLink OCS) is a leading provider of entitlement and e-business management solutions and services, including its flagship Poetic® Licensing Management System. ModusLink OCS works with industry-leading software publishers, digital content providers and OEMs to more effectively manage volumes and multichannel licensing programs, including ordering, fulfillment, activation, registration services, upgrades and proactive subscription renewals. As a subsidiary of ModusLink Global Solutions™, Inc. (NASDAQ: MLNK), which delivers global supply chain business process management solutions to technology companies worldwide, ModusLink OCS’ entitlement management solutions are supported by an integrated global footprint, cumulative domain expertise and best-of-breed technology solutions. For additional information, visit www.moduslinkocs.com.

ModusLink Global Solutions is a trademark of ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Source: ModusLink Open Channel Solutions, Inc.

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