The student made a bad choice and I agree that they should take responsibility for their actions. I described a way to do that. The software vendor has a right

The student made a bad choice and I agree that they should take responsibility for their actions. I described a way to do that. The software vendor has a right to make a living from selling licences. But. Students are usually young, relatively inexperienced, and have limited resources. A $31k fine would probably end their academic career and have a long-term effect on their life. And to what end? Why do this to someone at the start of their adult life? CERN and the university - without agreeing with the student's actions - should recognise the power imbalance between the student and the software vendor, and the absence of any real damage caused, and they should look after their people. That doesn't mean siding with the student, just using their position as respected institutions to bring about a just settlement. Their failure to do that makes them cowards.