The Digital Pirates

Difference between piracy and theft

The term "Digital Piracy" refers to unauthorized copying, distribution and selling of licensed software works which is then sold in the markets for substantially lower cost or downloaded for free . For E.g: Purchasing software CD,Downloading music ,games , movies or Ebooks. Piracy is a serious crime as it robs the creator of the money they are entitled to, and costs tens of thousands of people their jobs each year.The  Government also suffers a huge setback in tax revenue.Most don’t realize that when they download a copyrighted property they’re breaking the law and are contributing to a crime. With the ease and speed of modern technology, it’s easy to make a mistake. But they are. Making unauthorized copies of these creative works is against the law, and breaking it may subject the person who does it to civil and criminal liability.Pirated software are more vulnerable as they contain spyware, which after installation can steal personal and confidential information  from your computer without your knowledge and lead to identity theft.The computer may be subjected to virus attacks which can lead to loss of irreplaceable files or corruption to other software on your computer and also harm your hardware.

Types of Piracy

1. End User Privacy: This occurs when an individual reproduces copies of software without authorization i.e Using one licensed copy to install a program on multiple computers.
   
2. Client-Server Overuse:This type of piracy occurs when too many employees on a network are using a central copy of a program at the same time. 
   
3. Internet Piracy:This occurs when software is downloaded from the Internet.
   
4. Hard-Disk Loading :This occurs when a business who sells new computers loads illegal copies of software onto the hard disks to make the purchase of the machines more attractive. 
   
5. Software Counterfeiting:This type of piracy is the illegal duplication and sale of copyrighted software CD 
   

Some ways to combat Digital Piracy

• When you buy a tune and download it, don’t send a copy to someone who might sell it to others.
• Don’t make copies of DVDs and share it with your friends or family.
• Don’t download products from file-sharing apps like  share it
• Don’t pay a fee to join a online service provider who isn’t authorized to provide the goods it’s distributing. They may allow you to download all the tunes or movies you want, but it’s against the law. For e.g : hwww.mydownloadtube.com
• Don’t share it on pendrive.
• Look for the brand insignia of the manufacturer on the product and make sure it looks they way it’s supposed to.
• Don’t buy CDs or DVDs from street vendors. Their products are often counterfeited.
• Ask street vendors or discount stores that sell CDs and DVDs at bargain prices where they got the products and how they can sell them for such steeply discounted prices.
• If your city or state has a sales tax, be suspicious when you buy something and no tax is collected.
• Don’t record a live public performance when you don’t have permission. Most public performances prohibit the use of video equipment, cameras, and other recording devices. You may be depriving the artist and those who depend on the artist from income.
• Don't use sites like torrent to download movies , and other software. 

Give reasons for your answers

• Are we aware about the effects of digital piracy ?
• What do you think are the motives for engaging in Digital Piracy?
• If you receive an email claiming that you won a Google Lottery ?