Is it ethical to use a pirated software?

The use of unlicensed software is illegal, plain and simple. Downloading commercial software is unethical, as it is the virtual equivalent of stealing. Piracy is the theft of intellectual property and is no more acceptable than shoplifting.

Do Americans use pirated software?

The United States is the most law-abiding country percentage-wise, with a piracy rate of about 19 percent. But the prevalence of pirated software in the enterprise, even at 19 percent in the United States, also represents a threat to IT security.

Is it illegal to download pirated software?

Downloading and using cracked software is illegal. Alternatively, if you are caught with pirated software you might receive a fine. In the US, these fines can be up to $250,000. If you are caught distributing pirated software, you could even face jail time.

Why is pirated software unethical?

Piracy is Unethical The attraction of piracy is due to its anonymity and the ease with which illegal copies of software can be made and distributed. However, every person who makes illegal copies is contributing to the monetary losses caused by piracy.

Is it illegal to download cracked software?

Downloading and using cracked software is illegal. If you are caught using it, you could face a range of consequences. One of the more minor consequences is that you may be blocked by the software vendor temporarily or permanently.

Why shouldn’t you use pirated software?

Pirated software does not include the benefit of having a tech support team to contact to address questions or concerns. However, there are also other reasons not to use it. Using or distributing pirated software constitutes a violation of software copyright law. Companies and individuals face up to $150,000 in penalties for every instance.

How does Nike deal with software piracy?

Sportswear giant, Nike, was accused of using pirated keys to use software without a license. The company, implicitly, accepted that its employees had indulged in software piracy. It takes a large multinational brand like Nike to weather this type of negative publicity, and not risk the integrity of the company itself.

How much did Canadian companies pay for anti-piracy enforcement efforts?

Anti-piracy enforcement efforts across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec saw 12 Canadian companies fined $431,336 for using cracked software and pirated software on their computers. What was common for all of them? All were successful small businesses on way to transitioning to mid-size organizations.

Is Canada’s software piracy rate really 39\%?

The CBC reported that the piracy rate for commercial software in Canada was 39\% in 2003. Compare that to 23\% in the United States, one of the lowest in the world.