 |
1. What is Software
Piracy, exactly ?
It is the unauthorized
duplication, distribution or use of computer software -- for example, making more copies of software
than the license allows, or installing software licensed for one computer onto multiple computers or a server.
Copying software is an
act of copyright infringement, and is subject to civil and criminal penalties. It's illegal whether you use pirated software
yourself, give it away, or sell it. And aiding piracy by providing unauthorized access to software or to serial numbers used
to register software can also be illegal.
2.What's the harm
in making a few extra copies?
If those extra
copies are used on university-owned computers, the harm could be great. Software publishers take piracy very seriously.The university and the individuals involved could be held liable for large monetary
damages.
In the larger picture,
copying cheats the publisher and everyone who uses the software. It makes software more costly and denies the publisher the
sales it needs (and earned) to improve software and finance new projects. In 1997, software piracy cost New York State more
than $860 million in lost wages, tax revenue and retail sales, according to a Microsoft Study.
3. Types of
Software Piracy?
- Softlifting: purchasing a single
licensed copy of software andloading it onto several computers contrary to the license terms.
- Uploading and downloading: making unauthorized
copies of copyrighted software available to end users connected by modem to online service providers and/or the Internet.
- Software counterfeiting: illegally duplicating
and selling copyrighted software in a form designed to make it appear legitimate.
- Renting: unauthorized selling
of software for temporary use, like you would a video.
- Hard disk loading: installing
unauthorized copies of software onto the hard disks of personal computers, often as an incentive for the end user to buy the
hardware from that particular hardware dealer
|
