Software Piracy

Software piracy — which basically is the unauthorized copying and use of a software program — is a critical problem because it undermines the very foundation of the software industry. We’re in a business that is based on the value of intellectual property. And like any industry founded on intellectual property, the business model is simple. A significant investment is made to develop products. And survival is dependent on our partners’ ability to distribute and license products so that a reinvestment can be made into research and development to create new and better software products to meet consumers’ needs. Piracy shatters that model.

The issues facing the software industry are similar to those faced by the movie and recording industries. The nature of the products makes them easy to copy and distribute illegally. When that happens, the effects ripple throughout our economy in the form of jobs that are lost, taxes that go uncollected and products that don’t get developed. Intellectual property is the base of our knowledge economy. For our economy to prosper, it is essential that the value of your copyright be preserved and protected, whether you make movies, or recordings, or books, or software.

Piracy comes in a number of forms. Casual copying is one of the most common types. Perhaps most at risk are small- and medium-sized businesses that expand quickly. All too often, businesses load the software they need by copying applications without purchasing additional licenses. This is a serious issue, and it is the reason we have become more active working with small- and medium-sized businesses to educate them about the risks of copying software illegally, and to help them learn how they can become compliant quickly, easily and in a way that is cost effective.

I believe that efforts against software piracy require three things. The first is education. We work extensively through industry organizations and through our own marketing efforts to let the public and businesses know what the risks of software piracy are, what effect piracy can have on the economy as a whole and what they can do to make sure that they are compliant with copyright laws.

The second involves working with government and law enforcement agencies to make sure that there is a legal framework in place that honors intellectual property rights.

Enforcement is the third aspect. When the public sees consistent enforcement of the laws that are in place, they begin to gain respect for the principle of intellectual property.

However, legal action is always the last step, after other avenues are closed, to ensure that copyright laws are respected.