Software+Piracy

Software Piracy is the illegal duplication of [|copyrighted software]. Millions of computer users have made copies of programs they don't legally own and distributed them to family members, friends, and sometimes even strangers. But some people also sell these copies. Software piracy defies [|Patent laws] (type of laws that define mechanical inventions), Contract laws (a kind of law that protects trade secrets), [|Copyright laws] (a type of law that protects forms of literacy expression), Trademark laws (legal ownership protection for symbols, pictures, sounds, colors, and smells used by a business to indentify goods). Technical, manegerial and legal solutions include technologies to prevent or deter copying, marketing and contractual changes that reduce the incentuve to copy illegally, education about the reasons for copyright protection and enforcement and revision of copyright law. •

The problem is that software companies deal with extremely high losses due to software piracy. The software industry, with a world market of more than $50 billion a year, loses billions of dollars every year due to software pirates. The [|Business Software Alliance] (BSA) estimates that more than one third of all software in use is illegally copied, costing the software industry tens of thousands of jobs. People that work in production, marketing, and management should be ensured to be paid for the time and effort that they put in to create intangible intellectual property that we enjoy, because without them we wouldn't be able to use or have the privilege or luck to use the softwares, listen to music that we like, play video games, watch DVDs, etc. Existing laws, rules and/or guidelines should be applied or new ones should be developed in order to protect copyright owners but also protect fair use, reasonable public access and the opportunity to use new technologies to the fullest as to provide new services. • •
 * What are the different types of software piracy?**
 * ·** End User Copying (Softlifting): This form of piracy that occurs when extra copies of a program are made within an organization for employees to use. Disk swapping amongst friends and associates is also included in this category.
 * ·** Hard Disk Loading: Some computer dealers will load unauthorized copies onto the hard drives of new computers they are selling as an incentive for you to buy from that dealer.
 * ·** Counterfeiting: This is the illegal duplication and sale of copyrighted software. It is often designed to look like the genuine product. Many times it will be very unsophisticated and is easily identifiable as counterfeit product.
 * ·** Online: This form of piracy occurs when copyrighted software is downloaded to users from an electronic bulletin board on the internet without the authorization of the copyright owner.
 * ·** License Misuse: This type of piracy occurs when copyrighted software is distributed outside of the channels it was designed for, or the product is used in unauthorized ways. Examples of licensing misuse:
 * ·** Academic product is manufactured, licensed and packaged for distribution to state accredited academic institutions and students at a reduced price.
 * ·** NFR Product Misuse is clearly marked "Not for Resale"
 * ·** OEM Standalone Product is when software that is to be sold as a part of a computer system. It will sometimes be marked with "For Distribution Only With New PC Hardware"


 * Why should you report software piracy?**
 * ·** Software piracy is theft, with a lot of involvement by organized crime.
 * ·** Software is the fastest growing industry in the United States.
 * ·** Larger than all but five manufacturing industries.
 * ·** It contributes to the economy of every state in the U.S. and virtually every nation in the world.
 * ·** During 1996, software piracy resulted in up to 130,000 lost jobs
 * ·** Tax Revenues would have been $1 billion higher if piracy had not been a factor in 1996.
 * ·** Piracy hurts consumers because it makes it extremely difficult for companies to invest in R&D or new product development.
 * ·** Creating and writing software programs often requires thousands of hours of intellectual work. If developers do not get paid for their efforts they will not continue doing it.



by Cannelle Cuvelier

SOURCES:

http://www.comm.uiuc.edu/HelpDesk/piracy.htm

http://www.bsa.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement_of_software

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