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It’s best to avoid at all costs
Like the electronic identity theft, computer viruses and the spread of other computer crime, software piracy is growing. The problem with software piracy is that software costs make this illegal activity appealing to the end user. After all, that is going to hurt? Rich software companies? This article investigates software piracy as a whole and its impact on the computer using industry.

The most vulnerable victims of software piracy are businesses or independent programmers who create and distribute commercial software or shareware. Shareware are described in another article, but because both commercial and shareware software require payment, are targeted by pirates who seek to do this kind of free programs to use.

Depending on their binding legal agreements, usually licensing allows the use of a single program on a single computer. This set is often very well for a user who uses software at home on a computer. But in an environment where there are five, ten, twenty or more computers, buy a license for every computer may be expensive right. As expensive than the temptation of software piracy a bit here and there can be very tempting.

The co-workers are familiar with this temptation, and often are the ones who “share” software purchased between those who need it. However, the same temptation also induces others to knowingly or unknowingly buy pirated copies of commercial software or shareware registration.

As tempting as it is, it is still illegal and penalties / fines for trade or registered software is too much for one to endure. In the latest news, “Yahoo China loses music piracy case (AP via Yahoo! News) A court has ordered Yahoo Inc. ’s China subsidiary to pay 27000 dollars to help music piracy, the company and an industry group of music said on Tuesday. ” In addition, “EU lawmakers approve prison terms, fines for major commercial piracy (International Herald Tribune) EU lawmakers voted Wednesday for laws establishing prison sentences and fines for large-scale commercial piracy, but exempt from patent and carried out a copy for personal use. “

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Schools can research student versions of commercial software or application for a school discount. Just because schools are not the types of advertising, this does not mean that are not available. Freeware or open source software (also described in another of our articles) is an alternative to commercial piracy-ware, and shareware. And using older versions of programs can also reduce costs associated with commercial versions.

Until recently, public opinion held little faith in freeware or open source software - often with respect to as low-quality knock-offs of better commercial products. But if you take a good look at what is offered at no cost, can be a big surprise. The quality of the current freeware and open source software created a sharp divide between the business community and driving is literally competition bananas! So much so that even some well-known software development companies have joined the cause and built some freeware open source products of their own!

If you can remember that there are hoards of alternatives to costly commercial software (and make the effort to get it), you will discover that you can continue with the rest of the computer industry, at a cost significantly cheaper than if they try to pay their way down the software aisle. Software piracy is simply not the answer.