Software piracy is defined as illegal distribution or production of software products for business or for personal use. This act is considered illegal and is punishable in the courts of law. Many countries are reported to have copyright laws which also cover software, although their applications vary from each country. In the country like Iran, there is validation of unrestrained software distribution which has led to fears among many countries that it can be used politically by states. Software applications and fonts one buys do not belong to him but what is bought is the right to use the bought software on ones computer. The copy of the software bought should not be used on another machine or even given to other users like friends and colleagues (Kennedy, para 6).
Existing and proposed laws on piracy
In the United States, in the proposed US Uniform Computer Information Act, there is a model law that has been applied in Virginia and Maryland which gives software manufacturers powers to close down unlawful software copiers without involvement of the courts. The same power is found in Title II of the US DMA, in which the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act powers the copyright holders to order an online service provider to obstruct admission to pirated materials. If the online service provider accepts and follows the instructions given by the copyright holders, it is awarded by safe haven giving it protection against infringement claims. Failure to comply does not result in being liable to any infringement claims, but may depend on the immunity by the Communications Decency Act. Attempts by an individual to bypass a technological barrier like a password which have been used by software manufacturer to control access to a work are considered illegal. Although the action which can be taken against such a person is still not clear, the US Copyright Office is at present reviewing anti circumvention rule provided by DMCA. Anti circumvention rules currently in use are software planned to filter web sites that are considered inappropriate, copy protection mechanisms that do not work or viruses that interferes with the functions of software (Danchev, para 5).
Most software which are pirated are manufactured in the US and Europe therefore people coming from third world countries find it economically unfit to pay for all the licenses for all the software products needed but instead to just buy one license and duplicate it at no extra cost. Critics in the developing countries have described this restriction by developed countries as an indirect technology exchange tax in their countries imposed to prevent technological development. Most of the times, these people do not accept copyright laws which are put in place by developed countries. France on the contrary did not support other copyright enforces and went a head to issue ruling that allowed bank secrecy to infringe copyright.
Effects of software piracy
Piracy of software has reduced the verge of information required to obtain huge amounts of information. Great networks have been formed which are committed to distribute information and the same networks can be used in distribution of pirated materials. Detection of pirated materials is not easy since the people using them are capable of altering the brand and the contents of the material pirated and is being shared (Westervelt, para 8).
Emergence of quality in free alternative software is useful in reducing the use of pirated materials in the whole world. Piracy of software is viewed by some software manufacturers as a minor crime as compared to buying or illegally copying a rivals software. Piracy is also cited as having played a significant role in enabling young generation discover computers, and also acted as a foundation in the development of the information technology industry in Romania. Microsoft Company accepts that piracy of its Windows operating systems has enabled it gain huge market recognition in China and this will raise its revenues when the users finally purchases the license. The company owner Bill Gates was quoted saying that windows software will favorable compete well with Linux in the presence of piracy than when it is not there. He further said that piracy of their products make people to get addicted to them so much until they cannot go for other products (Kennedy, para 8).
Forms of piracy
There are various forms of piracy which include licensed user copying for the unlicensed users, illegal distribution through internet, illegal use of software over a network, distributing specialized education versions to unauthorized users, and distribution of inauthentic software or fonts. When an individual duplicates software without buying the right number of licenses is termed as copyright infringement. Activities which are considered as software piracy includes copying software for a friend, under quoting the number of computers using software, and even including copies of fonts like that of adobe when sending files to someone (Danchev, para 7).
There is an act of piracy particularly when distributing software through internet. One needs to be very careful when ordering software over the internet. Many people selling software through internet or those who trade from auction sites distribute the software illegally and they are fully aware of it. Over 90 of software traded over the internet auction sites are done through the black market and this is the reason why their prices are relatively low. Some web sites offer free software downloads to their customers and this is considered illegal. With such free downloads, there is no surety that the software downloaded is secure and will function well once installed (Westervelt, para 10). The only time when free downloads are allowed is when there are tryout promotions and this are exclusively found in the Web sites of the companies producing the software and they are used for a specified period. To buy a software with the protection and full functionality, it is recommended that the software be bought from the firm itself or authorized resellers (Kennedy, para 9).
Pirated materials affect everyone including manufacturers, retailers, and finally the users. Unlawful copying and distribution of software products affects the economy. Attempts to curb piracy are underway with Microsoft trying to teach partners and the users about the dangers of obtaining software from unscrupulous sources. Purchasing software from reputable and trusted sources and avoiding too good deals are the only ways of preventing time and money on poor quality and pirated products. One also needs to know the dangers associated with software piracy. By using pirated materials, you are exposing yourself to dangers of having potential desktop licensing problems.
Existing and proposed laws on piracy
In the United States, in the proposed US Uniform Computer Information Act, there is a model law that has been applied in Virginia and Maryland which gives software manufacturers powers to close down unlawful software copiers without involvement of the courts. The same power is found in Title II of the US DMA, in which the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act powers the copyright holders to order an online service provider to obstruct admission to pirated materials. If the online service provider accepts and follows the instructions given by the copyright holders, it is awarded by safe haven giving it protection against infringement claims. Failure to comply does not result in being liable to any infringement claims, but may depend on the immunity by the Communications Decency Act. Attempts by an individual to bypass a technological barrier like a password which have been used by software manufacturer to control access to a work are considered illegal. Although the action which can be taken against such a person is still not clear, the US Copyright Office is at present reviewing anti circumvention rule provided by DMCA. Anti circumvention rules currently in use are software planned to filter web sites that are considered inappropriate, copy protection mechanisms that do not work or viruses that interferes with the functions of software (Danchev, para 5).
Most software which are pirated are manufactured in the US and Europe therefore people coming from third world countries find it economically unfit to pay for all the licenses for all the software products needed but instead to just buy one license and duplicate it at no extra cost. Critics in the developing countries have described this restriction by developed countries as an indirect technology exchange tax in their countries imposed to prevent technological development. Most of the times, these people do not accept copyright laws which are put in place by developed countries. France on the contrary did not support other copyright enforces and went a head to issue ruling that allowed bank secrecy to infringe copyright.
Effects of software piracy
Piracy of software has reduced the verge of information required to obtain huge amounts of information. Great networks have been formed which are committed to distribute information and the same networks can be used in distribution of pirated materials. Detection of pirated materials is not easy since the people using them are capable of altering the brand and the contents of the material pirated and is being shared (Westervelt, para 8).
Emergence of quality in free alternative software is useful in reducing the use of pirated materials in the whole world. Piracy of software is viewed by some software manufacturers as a minor crime as compared to buying or illegally copying a rivals software. Piracy is also cited as having played a significant role in enabling young generation discover computers, and also acted as a foundation in the development of the information technology industry in Romania. Microsoft Company accepts that piracy of its Windows operating systems has enabled it gain huge market recognition in China and this will raise its revenues when the users finally purchases the license. The company owner Bill Gates was quoted saying that windows software will favorable compete well with Linux in the presence of piracy than when it is not there. He further said that piracy of their products make people to get addicted to them so much until they cannot go for other products (Kennedy, para 8).
Forms of piracy
There are various forms of piracy which include licensed user copying for the unlicensed users, illegal distribution through internet, illegal use of software over a network, distributing specialized education versions to unauthorized users, and distribution of inauthentic software or fonts. When an individual duplicates software without buying the right number of licenses is termed as copyright infringement. Activities which are considered as software piracy includes copying software for a friend, under quoting the number of computers using software, and even including copies of fonts like that of adobe when sending files to someone (Danchev, para 7).
There is an act of piracy particularly when distributing software through internet. One needs to be very careful when ordering software over the internet. Many people selling software through internet or those who trade from auction sites distribute the software illegally and they are fully aware of it. Over 90 of software traded over the internet auction sites are done through the black market and this is the reason why their prices are relatively low. Some web sites offer free software downloads to their customers and this is considered illegal. With such free downloads, there is no surety that the software downloaded is secure and will function well once installed (Westervelt, para 10). The only time when free downloads are allowed is when there are tryout promotions and this are exclusively found in the Web sites of the companies producing the software and they are used for a specified period. To buy a software with the protection and full functionality, it is recommended that the software be bought from the firm itself or authorized resellers (Kennedy, para 9).
Pirated materials affect everyone including manufacturers, retailers, and finally the users. Unlawful copying and distribution of software products affects the economy. Attempts to curb piracy are underway with Microsoft trying to teach partners and the users about the dangers of obtaining software from unscrupulous sources. Purchasing software from reputable and trusted sources and avoiding too good deals are the only ways of preventing time and money on poor quality and pirated products. One also needs to know the dangers associated with software piracy. By using pirated materials, you are exposing yourself to dangers of having potential desktop licensing problems.
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