Computer Software Priacy and its Impact on the International Economy. Covers all aspects and forms of software piracy

Computer Software Piracy and it's Impact on the International Economy

The PC industry is over twenty years old. In those twenty years, evolving software

technology brings us faster, more sophisticated, versatile and easy-to-use products.

Business software allows companies to save time, effort and money. Educational

computer programs teach basic skills and complicated subjects. Home software now

includes a wide variety of programs that enhance the users productivity and creativity.

The industry is thriving and users stand to benefit along with the publishers. The SPA

(Software Publishers Association) reports that the problem of software theft has grown,

and threatens to prevent the development of new software products. Unauthorized

duplication of software is known as software piracy which is a 'Federal offense that

affects everyone" ('Software Use...' Internet). The following research examines

software piracy in its various forms, its impact on the end user and the international

industry as a whole, and the progress that has been made in alleviating the problem.

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What's in the bag? Business of Software 2010

Software piracy harms all software companies and ultimately, the end user. Piracy

results in higher prices for honest users, reduced levels of support and delays in funding

and development of new products, causing the overall breadth and quality of software to

suffer" ('What is..." Internet). Even the users of unlawful copies suffer from their own

illegal actions: they receive no documentation, no customer support and no information

about product updates ('Software Use...' Internet).

The White Paper says that while virtually every software publisher expresses

concern about their software from unauthorized duplication, over time, many have

simply accepted the so-called 'fact' that such duplication is unavoidable. This has

created an atmosphere in which software piracy is commonly accepted as 'just another

cost of doing business' ('With the Growth...' Internet).

In a brochure published by the SPA it is stated that a...