Software piracy is the unauthorized duplication, use or distribution of any copyrighted software. Illegal downloading, copying and expired licenses are all forms of software piracy. According to the Business Software Alliance and Software and Information Industry Association, approximately 40 percent of installed business software and 23 percent of software in the U.S. overall is illegally copied. Software piracy is a serious crime and can result in severe legal penalties for both individuals and businesses. Unlicensed use is the most common type of piracy with home users and businesses. This occurs when individuals or employees make copies of or share software without an adequate number of licenses. This also includes using restricted-use software for other purposes, such as using academic versions in a business instead. The final type of piracy is hard disk loading. When software is loaded on a new or used computer by a third party without the copyright holder’s permission, software piracy has occurred. This typically happens with shady computer retailers or repair technicians. Writer Bio
