Internet piracy includes illegal file sharing, downloading, and counterfeiting. It can lead to fines, criminal charges, and viruses. File sharing is often copyright infringement and can result in lawsuits. End-user piracy and counterfeiting are also illegal and unethical. Illegal downloads harm artists and can damage computers. Only buy from reputable sources.
Piracy is the term used to describe the huge world of illegal file sharing, downloading, and counterfeiting associated with the Internet. Without the allure of bravado, Internet piracy is dangerous and usually illegal. There are many different types of Internet piracy that should be carefully avoided; the unsuspecting customer can end up facing fines, criminal charges, and a computer chock full of viruses.
File sharing is one of the oldest forms of Internet piracy and still raises some ethical debates. File sharing programs were created in the 1990s to allow users to share each other’s libraries of music, video clips, and other small files. Unfortunately, this amicable process has often led to a variety of problems. Files could easily be infected by viruses to destroy other computers; furthermore, file sharing is usually copyright infringement, which is illegal. Several high-profile lawsuits have been filed against people who had large libraries of illegally downloaded material in an attempt to crack down on file sharing
Many offices and companies often engage in forms of piracy without realizing it. Most software programs are meant to be installed on only one computer; sharing discs or programs between computers constitutes what experts call end-user piracy. This concept is the subject of much ethical debate, as many people argue that a program should be able to run on all of its owner’s computers; a person certainly doesn’t need to buy a duplicate CD for every CD player he owns. However, in the early 21st century, end-user piracy remains largely illegal and could result in legal consequences for businesses and employees.
Unfortunately, counterfeiting catches many victims who try to be ethical and avoid pirated programs. The free world of the Internet allows counterfeit pirates to create websites that are nearly identical to legitimate retailers. This allows pirates to sell digital or hard copies of software to which they have no legal right. Counterfeiting can be very convincing, as the packaging, composition and description of the product can all be exact replicas of products sold legally. To avoid buying counterfeit software, buy only from the original vendor or check the product’s official website for a list of reputable and approved resellers.
Piracy may give the impression that it doesn’t cause any harm, but that’s not true. Illegal downloading of a favorite artist’s music results in that musician not being paid any outstanding money for his or her work. Also, illegal downloads can be filled with spyware and viruses that can destroy hard drives and ruin computers. In the case of end-user or counterfeit software, users without a legal copy cannot receive program support or updates from the manufacturer.
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