Like electronic ID theft, PC viruses, and the spread of other PC crimes, software robbery is rising. The issue with software robbery is that software costs make this criminal activity appealing to the end user. The most exposed victims of software robbery are software companies or independent programmers who create and distribute commercial software or shareware.
We described shareware in another article, but because both commercial software and shareware need payment, they are the target of pirates who attempt to make these kinds of programs free to use.
Depending on their binding legal agreements, licensing usually permits the use of a single program on a single PC. This set up is mostly fine for a user who uses software at home on one PC.
But in an environment where there are 5, 10, 20 or more PCs, purchasing a license for each PC can be down-right dear. So dear the enticement to pirate a little software here and there may be pretty enticing. Co-workers are acquainted with this enticement and they are frequently those who “share” bought software among people who need it. However the same temptation also prompts others to intentionally or unknowingly buy illicit copies of commercial software or registered shareware. As enticing as it is, it’s still illegal and the punishments / fines for sharing commercial or registered software is too much for one to bear. Colleges can research student versions of commercial software or ask for a college discount. Freeware or open-source software ( also described in another one of our articles ) is another choice to pirating commercial-ware, as well as shareware. Up till recently, public opinion held tiny religion in freeware or opensource software – frequently concerning it as low-quality knock-off’s of better known commercial products. But if you’re taking a close look at what’s being offered at no charge, you could be in for a huge surprise.
The standard of today’s freeware and open-source software made a powerful rift among the commercial community and it’s literally driving the contest bananas. So much so, that even some famous software development companies have joined the cause and constructed a few freeware opensource products of their own. If you can remember that there are hoards of choices to expensive commercial software ( and you make some effort to get it ), you will discover that you can stay abreast of the remainder of the PC industry at a noticeably less expensive cost than if you tried to pay your way down the software aisle.