Reboot Your Attitude Internet Copyright and Piracy

Background The software industry loses billions of dollars a year through unauthorized copying of software for both personal and organizational use. The economic effects are felt all along the software distribution chain – from creators to retailers. Students should realize that they are legally bound by copyright laws.

What is Copyright? A copyright is a legal protection granted to a person for his or her creative work. Copyrights guarantee to authors and artists the right to say how and under what circumstances their work can be distributed and reproduced. Works such as books, songs, software, and films can be copyrighted.

Why is software copyright protection important? Copyright protection allows creators of software to achieve recognition and to reap the benefits to which they are entitled for their hard work. Copyright protection encourages people to produce new works and to share those works with other. Without copyright protection, the world of information and entertainment as we know it today would not exist.

What are the ethical uses of software? Ethical uses of software include: recognizing that software ownership is limited to the use of software under certain clearly defined conditions; abiding by licensing agreements prohibiting unauthorized use; refusing to help others copy software or otherwise violate the copyright law.

Software Use: The Facts When you buy software, you buy the right to use it yourself – and, in most cases, to make one copy for your files. Making any other copies is usually illegal. If you do copy software, other than a backup copy for yourself, you are subject to penalties under criminal and civil law. When you install software, you are legally bound by the licensing agreement which spells out what you can and cannot do with the software. Stealing software is no different, legally or morally, from shoplifting or burglary. People who copy software aren’t stealing from nameless, faceless corporations. They are stealing from creative, hard-working people.

Software: The Law Every time you pop a rental video into the VCR, you see an FBI warning on the screen. That’s when you probably push the fast- forward button so you can watch your movie. If you stopped to read the warning, it would tell you that it’s illegal to copy the video, or to show it to make a profit. Computer software is legally protected, too. You may find the licensing agreement inside the box when you open it. Or, a licensing agreement may appear on the screen when you load your new software. Most people never read it. They just push the “I accept” or “I agree” button in order to finish loading the software. As soon as you click on “I accept,” or “I agree,” you are signing a licensing agreement. Licensing agreements differ, so read each one carefully.

Copyright Laws Copyright laws in the U.S. and Canada protect a person’s right to control the reproduction and distribution of his or her creative works. It is illegal to duplicate software, to make multiple copies for personal use or for use within an organization, or to give an unauthorized copy to another individual, without permission of the copyright holder. You are liable under the copyright law if you know someone else is going to make unauthorized copies and you offer to help.

Remember: You don’t have to be the person making copies to be liable under the copyright law. U.S. copyright laws are based on Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution: “The Congress shall have Power…To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventor the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”

The Penalties Violators of software copyright laws in the U.S. and Canada may be liable under both criminal and civil law. That means you can be fined and sentenced to jail. You can also be sued by the company or people that have created the software.

Keep in Mind Software manufacturers are cracking down on software piracy. To avoid legal problems, companies are checking all of their computers for illegal software. Your school is probably checking licenses for all its installed software and on materials brought into school from home. The best protection? Obey the law. Respect computer software licensing agreements. Remind your family and friends that copying software is illegal.

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