YWAM Information Technology

In our poll about illegal software usage a few people have asked the question "What is illegal software?"  So I will attempt to point people in the right direction for that.

There are two good web-sites that I found that explain what illegal software is.  I'll have links to those sites at the bottom of this post.

Software piracy is the illegal copying, distribution, or use of software. When you purchase a commercial software package, an end user license agreement (EULA) is included to protect that software program from copyright infringement. Typically, the license states that you can install the original copy of software you bought on one computer and that you can make a backup copy in case the original is lost or damaged. You agree to the licensing agreement when you open the software package (this is called a shrink wrap license), when you open the envelope that contains the software disks, or when you install the software.

Types of software piracy include:

• Softlifting: Borrowing and installing a copy of a software application from a colleague.
• Client-server overuse: Installing more copies of the software than you have licenses for.
• Hard-disk loading: Installing and selling unauthorized copies of software on refurbished or new computers.
• Counterfeiting: Duplicating and selling copyrighted programs.
• Online piracy: Typically involves downloading illegal
  software from peer-to-peer network, Internet auction or blog. (In the
  past, the only place to download software was from a bulletin board system and these were limited to local areas because of long distance charges while online.)

Source Articles:

Piracy - a Whatis.com definition
Wikipedia: Copyright infringement of software