Stealing computer software

Being knowledgeable about the source and area where we likely get them is another must as well. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account.

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Skip to content Hardware Theft — is the act of stealing computer equipment. Hardware Vandalism- is the act of defacing or destroying computer equipment Software Deft: software theft in Technology Expand. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading Rage Against Risks. Hardware Theft : t he act of stealing computer equipement. Softwae theft is becoming an increasing problem for software publishers.

Becuase information is available to anyone anywhere across the globe via Internet, once software is illegally uploaded to the Internet, it is impossible to stop it from spreading. One way for software publishing companies to prevent unauthorized duplication or redistribution of their software is to use software piracy prevention programs such as Logic Protect. Logic Protect allows for live software license management and disables illegal software serial numbers.

Under this filtration test, those elements of the plaintiff's program that are not protected by copyright are identified and eliminated from consideration. This includes, for example, ideas, elements dictated by efficiency, or external factors or taken from the public domain. After this filtration process is completed, there may or may not be any protected program elements left.

If there are, this core of protected expression is compared with the defendant's allegedly infringing program to see whether there has been impermissible copying. The defendants in most software copyright infringement actions will doubtless claim that any alleged similarities relate only to elements of the plaintiff's program that should be filtered out as unprotectible.

This filtration test can make it very difficult for plaintiffs to win infringement cases. Indeed, it makes it difficult for plaintiffs and their attorneys to know whether they have a good infringement case in the first place, since opinions can and will naturally differ as to what elements should and should not be filtered from the infringement analysis.

The clearest cases of copyright infringement involve wholesale copying of your computer code. You will likely have far more difficulty proving infringement when you allege that nonliteral elements of your program have been copied—that is, things other than computer code, such as the user interface.

The bottom line is that it is virtually impossible for even the most experienced software attorney to predict with confidence whether a nonliteral infringement claim will succeed. Thus, plaintiffs who bring these cases enter a crap shoot: You pay your money in legal fees, and take your chance.

Learn more about intellectual property from Nolo's articles on Patent, Copyright, and Trademark. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.

The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Talk to a Lawyer. Grow Your Legal Practice. Meet the Editors. Copyright law protects software code.

Copyright Protects Software Most people believe that copyright law protects paintings, poems, and books. Here are the major elements you must establish to prove infringement: you are the lawful owner of all or part of a work protected by a valid copyright one or more of your copyright rights has been infringed, and the person, partnership, or corporation being sued has actually done the infringing act or contributed to it is what's called a "contributory infringer". Your email address will not be published.

Panda Security What is Software Piracy? April 22, 3 minute read. Software Piracy — Definition Software piracy is the act of stealing software that is legally protected.

Software Piracy Regulation Computer piracy is illegal and constitutes a federal crime. Types of Software Piracy There are five main types of software piracy. Softlifting Softlifting is when someone purchases one version of the software and downloads it onto multiple computers, even though the software license states it should only be downloaded once. Client-server overuse Client-server overuse is when too many people on a network use one main copy of the program at the same time.

Hard disk loading Hard disk loading is a type of commercial software piracy in which someone buys a legal version of the software and then reproduces, copies or installs it onto computer hard disks. Counterfeiting Counterfeiting occurs when software programs are illegally duplicated and sold with the appearance of authenticity. Online Piracy Online piracy, also known as Internet piracy, is when illegal software is sold, shared or acquired by means of the Internet.