Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Define software piracy.
- Understand that software is protected by copyright law.
- Identify common anti-piracy measures.
Software Piracy
Software piracy is the unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of copyrighted software. When you purchase commercial software, you are not buying the software itself, but a license to use it according to the terms set by the owner. Making copies for friends, installing a single-user license on multiple computers, or downloading commercial software from an unauthorized site are all forms of piracy.
Copyright
Software is a form of intellectual property and is protected by copyright law, just like books and music. This gives the owner of the software the exclusive right to control its copying and distribution.
Anti-Piracy Measures
Software companies use several methods to prevent piracy:
- License Key (or Product Key): A unique code that is required to activate the software.
- Dongle: A piece of hardware that must be plugged into the computer for the software to run.
- Digital Rights Management (DRM): A set of technologies used to restrict the use and copying of digital content and software.
Summary
Software piracy is the illegal copying or use of copyrighted software. It is a violation of the license agreement that a user agrees to when they purchase the software. To combat piracy, software companies use a variety of anti-piracy measures, including license keys and DRM, to control how their software is used.
Key Takeaways
- Software piracy is the unauthorized copying or distribution of software.
- Software is protected by copyright law.
- Anti-piracy measures include license keys and DRM.
Discussion Questions
- Is it illegal to burn a copy of a music CD for a friend? How is this similar to or different from software piracy?
- What are some of the arguments that people use to justify software piracy?
- Do you think DRM is a fair and effective way to prevent piracy? Why or why not?
