What Are the Consequences of Software Piracy?

Copyright infringement of software, commonly referred to as software piracy, is the act of buying, selling or trading stolen copies of programs. If you are caught, the consequences of software piracy can be dire.

About Software Piracy

Software piracy is a violation of copyright law and a form of theft. You are guilty of piracy when you illegally download a copy of a pirated program and when you offer or sell copies to others, regardless of whether they profit from the sales.

Monetary Consequences

Federal law allows software publishers to sue individuals found with pirated software for statutory damages, ranging between $500 to $100,000 for each pirated program they possess. Restitution costs could reach millions of dollars.

Punitive Consequences

Individuals who distribute or sell copies of pirated software can face up to five years in prison.

Personal Consequences

In addition to penalties and prison sentences, consumers can unknowingly put their computers at risk by installing pirated software that contains malware, viruses and other malicious software that can jeopardize the owner's machine and sensitive data.

Consumer Consequences

As the popularity of software piracy continues to increase, software publishers are turning to honest consumers to cover the costs. Consumers pay an estimated $15 more toward publishers' recovery costs for every $100 spent purchasing software.

References

• "Computer and Video Game Law: Cases and Materials;" Ashley S. Lipson, et al.; 2009