Software Piracy Continued
Effects of Software Pircay
When software is pirated, consumers, software developers, and resellers are harmed. Software piracy increases
the risk consumer's computers will be corrupted by defective software and infected with viruses. Those who provide
defective and illegal software do not tend to provide sales and technical support. Pirated software usually has
inadequate documentation, which prevents consumers from enjoying the full benefits of the software package. In addition,
consumers are unable to take advantage of technical support and product upgrades, which are typically available to
legitimate registered users of the software. Pirated software can cost consumers lost time and more money
Both the US government and software companies are actively involved in efforts to eliminate piracy. The two major
groups of software manufacturers involved in this effort are the Software Publishers Association and the Business
Software Alliance. These organizations regularly bring suit against companies involved in piracy, provide a hotline
for reporting software piracy and provide web pages for online reporting of software piracy. The US government's
FBI has a Computer Crime Squad who has raided numerous homes and offices, confiscated computers and shutdown numerous nationwide software piracy rings over the last several years.
FBI's National Computer Crime Squad (NCCS)
Minimising Software Piracy
- Have a central location for software programs. Know which applications are being added, modified or deleted. /li>
- Secure master copies of software and associate documentation.
- Never lend or give commercial software to unlicensed users
- Permit only authorized users to install software
- Educate useres aware of software use and security procedures which reduce likelihood of software piracy
Link to my third page
Link to my first page
Reference
Police Operations Page . FBI Computer Crime Squad
http://www.emergency.com/fbi-nccs.htm March 2007
The Register. Study shows effects of software piracy reduction on UK and world economies
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/7136.cfm March 2007
GameSpy Industries. Gamespy: Articles
http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/articles/piracy.shtm