Course Technology--InfoWeb: Anti-Piracy

Click to see a list of all Computer Concepts 4e InfoWebs.

Click to see a list of all Computer Concepts 3e InfoWebs.

If you are using the CD, close your browser to return to it.

Click to see a list of all Illustrated Computer Concepts InfoWebs.

Anti-Piracy

For updates on global software piracy, check the Web sites of the Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) and The Software and Information Industry Association (formerly the Software Publishers Association) at www.siia.net. Because these organizations represent the software industry, their sites also contain plenty of facts and figures that point out the economic and social pitfalls of piracy. For analysis of all sides of the piracy issue, you must look elsewhere. You can enter the search keyword "software piracy" in a Web search engine, then follow the resulting links. What should you do if you discover a software pirate? You can report suspected violations of copyright law to the Business Software Alliance by dialing (888) NOPIRACY or to the SIIA anti-piracy hotline at (800) 388-7478.

Additional Links

Federation Against Software Theft Companies in the U.S. are not the only companies in the world interested in protecting software products from theft losses. In the United Kingdom, the Federation Against Software Theft plays a role similar to that of the Business Software Alliance and Software Publisher's Association. FAST, a not-for-profit organization, aims to reduce software piracy through education of users, enforcement of current copyright laws, and lobbying of legislative bodies.

Forbes: "Cops versus Robbers in Cyberspace" For an excellent overview of piracy, copyright, and intellectual property issues that cut across a number of media industries--including the software industry--read this article by Phillip E. Ross. In addition to outlining the issues, Ross discusses various technologies that are designed to combat and prevent piracy.