Software Piracy

15 December 2006

Software Piracy

Introduction

Technology in the 21st century possesses the ironically unique ability to simultaneously bring out the best that the human mind can conjure , as well as the worst . A perfect example of this is the software industry Because of the infinite intelligence and skill of software developers combined with a bit of creativity and ambition , computer software is constantly being engineered to assist us in business , education medicine , and much more . Conversely , this same software has led to the advent of a more sinister , yet

equally intelligent and ambitious individual , known as the software pirate , which is to say that this individual 's main goal is to use what others have created , without the creator 's permission , for their own ruthless gain

Software piracy is likewise unique in the way that it is viewed by the general public while most people would be outraged and appalled at the prospect of entering someone 's home or business without permission and stealing the contents , these same people often times feel that software piracy is not a big issue , and see nothing wrong with it . This may be a social phenomena or simply a skewed view of a very real crime , but whatever the case , the fact remains that the crime exists , is growing and has specific penalties for its violations

With the issue of software piracy in mind , the key aspects of the will be presented and discussed in this , and ultimately , the will conclude with a summary and thoughts on this highly volatile

Software Piracy Defined and Classified

Before anyone can truly appreciate exactly what is involved in software piracy , as well as its effects , it is important to first have a basic definition of what software piracy is , as well as the basic classifications of software piracy . Loosely defined , software piracy is the use , copying , distribution , and /or sale of software without the permission of the owner of that software , which is to say the person or persons who own the licensing rights to the software (Software Piracy and its Impact on Social Welfare . This broad definition includes several classifications of software pirate on the lowest level of piracy , and indeed the most innocuous , are those who purchase software legitimately and perhaps install it on more than one of their own computers , for personal use , as well as the person who buys an illegal copy knowingly and does the same . More serious are the business buyers who make unauthorized copies of software and use it for commercial purposes , or buy illegal copies of software in the full knowledge that the software is in fact illegal . The most harmful , and unlawful software pirate is the individual who knowingly produces many illegal copies of software and sells them to others , which of course is done mostly for the sake of the tremendous profit potential of software piracy itself (Marshall , 1993

The basic types of software pirates can become involved in a variety of...