Software piracy (officially calledcopyright infringement of software) refers to the illegal copying ofsoftware. It often uses theInternet. Some countries have laws about this. The problem is considered to be bigger in certain countries than in others. Those who hold thecopyright get lessmoney because of copyright infringement. As a result of this, some copyright holders publish “anti-piracy” campaigns to tell people about the effects of infringement.

Very often, the people making the laws have to make a trade-off between allowing people to copy and use the software, and the copyright holders charging for the content. At the same time, even not allowed distribution makes the content more popular. Because of these two reasons, infringement of copyright forproprietary software and content can be bad also forfree software and content.

In 2010 to 2012, the entertainment industry advocated changes to United States law to make it easier to end piracy websites, calledStop Online Piracy Act andProtect IP Act. Some websites including theEnglish Wikipedia protested these proposals on January 18, 2012. The next day, theUnited States Department of Justice seized theMegaupload website which is claimed to be one of the largest piracy websites.^[1]

Some reasons on why people pirate are:^[2]

• Digital rights management (DRM) may limit people from using the software in ways they want.
• The price of software may be high.
• Not available in their country; no legitimate stores sell it there.
• The experience or quality may be bad for a person, but the pirate's service can be better than a legitimate seller's.
• Anonymity: Software piracy doesn't require anemail, or other information that may identify the user.
• A person may be opposed to copyright law in general.

Illegally distributedproprietary software often has the following features:

• Can't meet the proprietor's requirement for a legal copyrightcertificate.
• No after-sales service.
• Unusually low price (though legitimate prices also vary).
• Can't upgrade by the official method.
• Distribution by download from other than the maker's official Website.
• No DRM, letting people use the software offline or for other purposes.

• Copyright infringement

1. ↑Department of Justice indictment, on Wall Street Journal's website Retrieved January 21, 2012.
2. ↑"Interview: Gabe Newell".The Cambridge Student ONLINE.Archived from the original on 2011-11-26.

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