Software Piracy

Definition - What does Software Piracy mean?

Software Piracy is stealing legally protected software. Under copyright law, when copyright-protected software is copied, distributed, modified or sold, software piracy has occurred. Software piracy is considered direct copyright infringement when it denies copyright holders their due compensation for usage of their creative works.

Techopedia explains Software Piracy

Whether the users are the ones who illegally made the copies, or whether they are knowingly the recipients of the illegal copies, software piracy penalties apply. Unknowingly accepting pirated software copies can be another story providing one can prove as much. End users may note red flags indicating they are recipients of pirated software when the digital media they obtain is in inconspicuous or generic containers such as a CD sleeve or an unnamed disk.

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