Software piracy is like stealing. It is the same as shoplifting or burglary. On this note, it is against our moral values. It is unethical. It is wrong. Poverty cannot simply justify one’s act of engaging in this kind of endeavor.
What is software piracy in the first place? Why is it wrong? Software piracy can be of any forms: End-user Piracy, Internet Piracy and Software Counterfeiting. End-user piracy occurs when an individual reproduces copies of software without authorization. This includes using one licensed copy to install a program on multiple computers, copying discs for installation or distribution, taking advantage of upgrade offers without having a legal copy of the version to be upgraded, acquiring academic or other restricted or non-retail software without a proper license, and the like. Internet piracy on the other hand, occurs when software is downloaded from the Internet. The same purchasing rules apply to on-line software purchases as for those bought in compact disc format. Common Internet piracy techniques are websites that make software available for free download or in exchange for others, Internet auction sites that offer counterfeit or out-of-channel software and peer-to-peer networks that enable unauthorized transfer of copyrighted programs. And the third form of software policy includes the illegal duplication, distribution and/or sale of copyrighted material with the intent of imitating the copyrighted product. In the case of packaged software, it is common to find counterfeit copies of the compact discs incorporating the software programs, as well as related packaging, manuals, license agreements, labels, registration cards and security features.
With the advancement of technological tools software piracy has increased worldwide. It has brought a number of negative impacts. For instance, software piracy hurts the economy because revenue is lost. Second, the software industry is affected because limited numbers of jobs are available. Lastly, consumers end up paying higher prices for software programs.
In order to mitigate software piracy, it is important to educate customers on the legal use of software licenses and to coordinate any anti-piracy efforts of the company. Some of these include developing customer communications on the legal use of software licenses, working with individual customers to resolve licensing concerns, instituting software product activation and license compliance audits. These and punitive measures imposed by the government are some of the possible ways to diminish software piracy.
Dawn Laurice 