Appropriate Use of Commercial Software

A newly appointed assistant professor is unpacking her new computer and preparing to install a dozen software packages, all recently purchased for her use with grant funds.  A colleague in the next office tells her that he makes a practice of copying entire software installation CDs into folders in an install directory on his hard disk, before installing the software from this hard disk copy.  He suggests that she simply install each software package she has purchased from his computer, over the network.  This will be much faster, also easier, and will not require opening the shrink-wrapped software packaging.  He also suggests she install several programs that she has not yet purchased and try them out.  If she likes them, she can purchase them online, and if not, she can uninstall them.  What, if anything, might be unethical about this practice?

K5F says:  This violates the licensing agreement included with virtually every piece of software that an investigator is likely to have access to, and is contrary to the software sharing policy of most institutions including industry, government or universities.