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The unauthorized copying of
software. Most retail
programs are
licensed for use at just one
computer site or for use by only one
user at any time. By buying the software, you become a licensed user rather than an owner (see
EULA). You are allowed to make copies of the program for
backup purposes, but it is against the law to give copies to friends and colleagues. Software piracy is all but impossible to stop, although software companies are launching more and more lawsuits against major infractors. Originally, software companies tried to stop software piracy by
copy-protecting their software. This strategy failed, however, because it was inconvenient for users and was not 100 percent foolproof. Most software now requires some sort of registration, which may discourage would-be pirates, but doesn't really stop software piracy.
Some common types of software piracy include
counterfeit software,
OEM unbundling, softlifting,
hard disk loading,
corporate
software piracy, and Internet
software piracy. An entirely different approach to software piracy, called
shareware, acknowledges the futility of trying to stop people from copying software and instead relies on people's honesty. Shareware publishers encourage users to give copies of programs to friends and colleagues but ask everyone who uses a program regularly to pay a registration fee to the program's author directly.
Commercial programs that are made available to the public illegally are often called
warez.
See "Is
Software Ownership the Same as Licensing?" in the in the "Did
You Know..." section of Webopedia.
Also see "All
About Software: Categories of applications software explained" in the "Did
You Know..." section of Webopedia.
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 Microsoft's anti-piracy page
This anti-piracy page offers Microsoft's international report on software piracy, along with many links to piracy reports and statistics. There is also an 800 number and email address to report piracy or receive anti-piracy information.
Is Open Source the Answer to Software Piracy?
Ever since the dawn of commercial software, piracy has been a problem without a realistic solution that meets the needs of both the software vendor and the end user.
Microsoft Looks to Curb Piracy in Vista Update
Microsoft Corp said on Monday it would disable the two primary methods used by software pirates to illegally copy Windows Vista software in the next major update of the operating system.
Piracy's Other Price: Jobs
The impact of software piracy and the illegal copying and distribution of other copyrighted works is hard to measure.
SPA Anti-Piracy
Anti-piracy information from the Software & Information Industry Association, including news, an FAQ, and details on what constitutes software piracy.
Webopedia's "Did You Know...?" Section
Use this Webopedia knowledge section for an in-depth overview of specific technologies and occurrences in the areas of Computer Science, The Internet, and Computer Hardware and Software.
Webopedia's Software Category
The Webopedia Software Category offers hundreds of term definitions and links related to the topic of Software.
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