software piracy powerpoint

Software PiracySoftware PiracyProject 3: Social InjusticeProject 3: Social Injustice

What is Software Piracy?What is Software Piracy?

In comparison to literature, music, and In comparison to literature, music, and movies, computer software is a new form movies, computer software is a new form of intellectual property. However the same of intellectual property. However the same laws govern computer software, and laws govern computer software, and stealing this property is no different than stealing this property is no different than stealing any other form of copyrighted stealing any other form of copyrighted content, and the punishment for doing so content, and the punishment for doing so is the same.is the same.


A single individual A single individual can commit hundreds can commit hundreds of acts of software of acts of software piracy everyday.piracy everyday.To the right are the To the right are the top ten most infringed top ten most infringed software in 2007.software in 2007.

Source: Software & Information Industry Source: Software & Information Industry Association Association

Top Ten Infringed Software Top Ten Infringed Software Titles in 2007Titles in 2007

1.1. Symantec Norton Anti-VirusSymantec Norton Anti-Virus2.2. Adobe AcrobatAdobe Acrobat3.3. Symantec PC AnywhereSymantec PC Anywhere4.4. Adobe PhotoshopAdobe Photoshop5.5. AutoDesk AutoCADAutoDesk AutoCAD6.6. Adobe DreamweaverAdobe Dreamweaver7.7. Roxio Easy CD/DvD CreatorRoxio Easy CD/DvD Creator8.8. Roxio Toast TitaniumRoxio Toast Titanium9.9. Ipswitch WS_FTPIpswitch WS_FTP10.10. Nero Ultra EditionNero Ultra Edition


The means to steal this The means to steal this content is much easier content is much easier than to steal most other than to steal most other products. As technology products. As technology increases, with advances increases, with advances in internet systems and in internet systems and filesharing programs, the filesharing programs, the ease to access these ease to access these copyrighted digital files is copyrighted digital files is continuously easier, and continuously easier, and the risk of getting caught the risk of getting caught is next to nothing is next to nothing (Moores, T. T., 2008 p. (Moores, T. T., 2008 p. 39). 39).


Unfortunately, despite this reality, there Unfortunately, despite this reality, there are many people who engage in software are many people who engage in software piracy and whenever a piece of software piracy and whenever a piece of software that is unlicensed is used, it deprives that is unlicensed is used, it deprives software companies of their earnings. The software companies of their earnings. The thousands of hours of time that are spent thousands of hours of time that are spent working on programs by writers, working on programs by writers, programmers, design artists and others, programmers, design artists and others, goes uncompensated. goes uncompensated.

Source: Software & Information Industry Association Source: Software & Information Industry Association

How Does Software Piracy Affect How Does Software Piracy Affect Me?Me?

The most obvious and direct impact would The most obvious and direct impact would be if you partake in software piracy, you be if you partake in software piracy, you put yourself at risk to corrupt files intended put yourself at risk to corrupt files intended to steal personal information or damage to steal personal information or damage your computeryour computer..


You are also at risk You are also at risk for being caught for for being caught for your illegal activities your illegal activities by either being turned by either being turned in by vigilante in by vigilante individuals or by individuals or by investigations investigations targeting a specific targeting a specific popular program.popular program.


Even if you do not partake in software Even if you do not partake in software piracy it has a direct impact on you piracy it has a direct impact on you because of the strain it puts on society. because of the strain it puts on society. The global economy alone loses The global economy alone loses approximately 12 billion dollars a year on approximately 12 billion dollars a year on software piracy which doesn’t include software piracy which doesn’t include other forms of stolen media such as other forms of stolen media such as movies and music (Moores, T. T., 2008 p. movies and music (Moores, T. T., 2008 p. 39). 39).


Naturally the repercussions of this dramatic Naturally the repercussions of this dramatic financial loss would be a loss of jobs, increased financial loss would be a loss of jobs, increased prices on legal software, flourishing illegal prices on legal software, flourishing illegal copywriting organizations, uncompensated work copywriting organizations, uncompensated work by talented individuals.by talented individuals.This further impacts you as 80 percent of the This further impacts you as 80 percent of the world’s software is produced in the U.S. world’s software is produced in the U.S.

(Source: Software & Information Industry Association) (Source: Software & Information Industry Association) The issue brings the morals of society into The issue brings the morals of society into question as this type of crime is being swept question as this type of crime is being swept under the rug. under the rug.

How Can I Help?How Can I Help?

The first step of action would include The first step of action would include educating yourself further about the issue. educating yourself further about the issue.

To do this there are numerous To do this there are numerous organizations out there dedicated to the organizations out there dedicated to the issue of Software piracy including the issue of Software piracy including the BSA, SIIA, RIAA and many others BSA, SIIA, RIAA and many others including the corporations themselves including the corporations themselves such as Microsoft and Adobe. such as Microsoft and Adobe.


These coalitions and companies will gladly These coalitions and companies will gladly help in your education of software piracy help in your education of software piracy as they all have atleast a section on their as they all have atleast a section on their sites dedicated to it, some even have sites dedicated to it, some even have hotlines. hotlines. They will inform you on how to pick out They will inform you on how to pick out and diagnose illegal or unregistered and diagnose illegal or unregistered software to keep yourself safe from its software to keep yourself safe from its dangers. dangers.


Another way to help, albeit it sounding cliché, is Another way to help, albeit it sounding cliché, is to raise awareness to others. Make sure your to raise awareness to others. Make sure your friends and family are not partaking in software friends and family are not partaking in software piracy and if they are inform them of the risks to piracy and if they are inform them of the risks to themselves and to society. themselves and to society.

Any reasonable individual can identify software Any reasonable individual can identify software piracy as theft if it is brought to their attention or piracy as theft if it is brought to their attention or explained to them in a logical manner. explained to them in a logical manner.


A final example of an easy way A final example of an easy way to help would be to report to help would be to report cases of software piracy or cases of software piracy or suspicious looking programs to suspicious looking programs to the proper place. the proper place. The SIIA has a section in The SIIA has a section in which you can fill out a piracy which you can fill out a piracy report and be eligible for up to report and be eligible for up to 1 million dollars if your 1 million dollars if your information leads to a information leads to a beneficial conclusion. Most beneficial conclusion. Most software companies have software companies have areas designated for reporting areas designated for reporting software piracy or hotlines if software piracy or hotlines if there are any questions. there are any questions.

Where Can I get more information?Where Can I get more information?

The best places to get The best places to get information regarding this information regarding this issue would be… issue would be… BSA or Business BSA or Business Software Alliance at Software Alliance at BSA.org or over the BSA.org or over the phone at 202.872.5500. phone at 202.872.5500. SIIA, The Software and SIIA, The Software and Information Industry Information Industry Association’s Anti-Piracy Association’s Anti-Piracy Division. Visit them at Division. Visit them at siia.net or call their siia.net or call their hotline at 1-800-388-hotline at 1-800-388-7478. 7478.

software piracy powerpoint

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