Software+and+Media+Pirating

=__Pirating (Stealing Software or Media)__ = //By Aimee Files//

**// What is piracy? //**  Piracy is the use or distribution of material that is unauthorized by the creator. It is a crime that is often vaguely defined, but has billions of dollars at stake. A person has a right to control their work (songs, movies, tv shows, software programs), and the means and amount at which it is reproduced and the distributed. By buying particular software, you are not buying the copyright rights, you are buying a license to use the program in a way that the creator has intended. If you do not, you are breaking the federal copyright law. You can be prosecuted and, if convicted, fined up to $250,000 or sentenced to five years in jail. ** Software Piracy ** ** // What is software piracy? // ** We can first compare software piracy to music copyrights. Songs have been written and sang by certain people and there are copyrights on them. As soon as someone else uses that song, the melody, or the words without authorization, that person is committing copyright infringement (violation of the law). The same applies to software. When you buy the software and install it onto your computer, the windows you automatically click through and agree to in order to get the installation started discuss the terms of use and how you are the sole owner of this copy of the software.

It costs the software companies anywhere from 10 million to 20 million dollars a year. However, most of the illegal actions take place in oversees markets. Common examples of Software Piracy might be: //** Read all the licensing agreements on the software that you buy. Software that is called “Public Domain” is the only kind of software that you may make changes to, copy, and distribute as you like. You cannot claim, that you “didn’t know that this software was not //public domain”//. It is your responsibility to be knowledgeable and find out for sure before you download, accept, or trade with anyone. ** Media Piracy ** Media piracy is when people unlawfully view copyrighted work either by illegal download over the internet or by an illegal showing of the film in which the artists are receiving no payment for their work. We have all probably heard of the story of Napster, the media resource website that was accessible to download songs for free, was shut down in 2001. Its faithful users were devastated and also worried that their personal information might be forwarded to the same internet officials that shut down Napster and start to come after them. It is illegal to duplicate something someone bought and give it out for free. Even though we think we are doing a good thing, helping others save some money by just copying the CD or video for them, it is illegal. The media companies struggle with the effects of this media piracy problem everyday. They count on every person who would like to hear a particular song or watch a particular show or video to spend their money and buy it. When people start duplicating and giving the goods out for free, the companies lose out and do not get paid for //their// work. The movie industry doesn’t technically //lose// money, but they don’t gain money. At first glance, we think the movie industry only consisted of the big name actors, producers, and directors. Does it really hurt the people that are getting paid millions of dollars to lost a little for the sake of us saving a few? However, the movie industry creates billions of dollars in jobs and related products. The economic factor of the movie industry in the United States shouldn’t be overlooked.
 * // What’s so wrong about it? //**
 * Making copies of software to // sell // to others. This is illegal in most countries and is the main definition of software privacy. If you have bought the software, you can not turn around and resell to other users. Nor can you buy from people you know are doing this.
 * Making copies of software to // give // to others. This is also illegal. Even though you think you might be doing something nice or doing a favor for someone, it is unlawful. You bought it, you keep it, you use it.
 * Internet // sharing //- dispersing software via the Internet using peer-to-peer networks. One such website, [|www.thepiratebay.org], allows users to post and distribute software. This is becoming more common with the increased popularity of the Internet and people who can change the codes on software to have more than one user (changing or modifying any software without permission from the creator is also illegal).
 * Using a // server // as a means to use software- without the proper networking license, allowing clients or members of an in-house network use an installed piece of software is considered software piracy.
 * Using //personal// software for business- Some software is free to the personal user (the everyday person, using it for ordinary things at home). As soon as the software is used to generate income, the software has now changed to a commercial purpose software.
 * The // MOST CONTROVERSIAL // form of piracy is using a personal copy of software that you’ve purchased on multiple home computers. Say you have two computers in your house that you and your family use. It is unlawful and considered hacking if you use that software on more than one of those computers. The software industry has restricted users to use the one program on their one computer. Many consumers are angered by this as they feel they are following all the rules, personal use only, not redistributing the software, or tampering with it. Nonetheless, it is illegal.
 * // So how do I know I am not breaking the law? //**
 * // What is Media Piracy? //**
 * // What’s so wrong about it? //**
 * // Common situations of Media Piracy might be: //**
 * Creating a personal CD for a friend or family member of a compilation of your own purchased CDs
 * Creating a mixed CD of songs you downloaded off of sites like Limewire
 * Downloading videos off of websites such as Kazaa that have not been given the permission to do so
 * Taping a movie that you see in the movie theatre with a video recorder and posting it on the web for others to download and watch
 * Using pictures or images from the Internet or a software without permission from the creator

 While a lot of media companies are taking action to prevent media piracy of their goods, it will take time to develop and maintain the constant updates of these content-recognition software. This type of software identifies material that has been “illegally used”. Other companies are using audio fingerprinting technologies to find copyrighted materials (songs) on social-networking sites (ie. MySpace or Facebook). There is still more technology being developed that will actually search the Internet in pursuit of any copyrighted text, audio, or video. As a personal consumer, you need to be aware that the unauthorized downloading of movies, songs, and images is illegal. You need to double check that the movies and songs you are downloading are free use. You will need to read the disclaimers to see that the creator will allow your free use. Basically, free is really not free. Someone is paying for it, or NOT getting paid for it when they should. To protect yourself from possible prosecution, it is best to play it on the safe side and pay for what you use, watch, listen to, and enjoy.
 * // So how do I know that I am not breaking the law? //**