Why is computer piracy harmful to society? (Answers)

Downloading files from the Internet, buying or selling unlicensed software, copying software from official versions - all this is computer piracy. Why does the pirate business develop so quickly? Do we need to fight it?

What is piracy?

Computer piracy is the illegal distribution of software. It can manifest itself in different ways, but the result is one. Illegal distribution of software is already considered a "norm" in many countries. Somewhere, there is a strict policy of eliminating piracy, and somewhere it has developed to such an extent that it is incredibly difficult to combat it. So why is computer piracy harmful to society?

What is the meaning of copying software?

Computer piracy is a business, and quite profitable. Hundreds of copies-fakes fall into the markets and thereby bring incredible income to the distributor. The hardest thing is not to copy video, music and programs, but to distribute it through sales channels.

How is the spread of counterfeit programs?

Copying and replicating of illegal software can be carried out at different levels:

1. "Through a neighbor." Imagine the situation that your friend asked to give a disk with the program he needs. You, of course, agreed. But are you sure that this disk is licensed? If this is not so, you have become a kind of distributor of illegal programs. You not only gave a disk for use, but also once acquired it, thereby financing its distributors.
2. Small "pirates". These are people who independently engage in video and audio copying and selling their products. Production is carried out in small offices, one or two people. Copies of software such distributors do not go beyond the small markets and transitions in the metro.
3. Serious organizations for replicating and selling illegal programs. There is already a team of savvy sales people who know how to copy software. They create discs with pirated videos and programs on a large scale. The results of such "institutions" we can meet everywhere, from the same transitions and ending with large disk stores.
4. "Himself an enemy." It's hard to believe, but the official software companies themselves are creating problems. So, to increase profits, they produce "left" copies of disks in large quantities. The buyer will never guess that he bought the fake: the licensed version of the pirate does not differ in anything.

As you can see, the "pirate" business is very developed. This leads to the emergence of a whole bunch of problems, from which everyone suffers: both users and the state.

How piracy harms people

How and why does computer piracy harm society? Consider the examples of different groups of people.

Programmers

Producers of illegal programs only copy official programs and redo them for themselves. The creation of new software is done by programmers. Only they own the copyright to their works. For the sale of licensed video, audio products, they receive a percentage of profits.

Pirated copies of software displace official versions of products from the markets. Roughly speaking, distributors of illegal programs steal money from the creators of licensed versions. If you take into account the scale of the replication of pseudo programs, you can estimate the immodest amount that pirates take.

Members List

Pirated products are several times cheaper than their originals. "What's wrong with that?" You ask.

Unlicensed programs have an equally devastating effect on users. You also do not guess that by buying such products, you involuntarily become violators of the law. But the distributors know this, and yet they continue to sell their "works" to you.

After unscrupulous producers have copied the program, video or music they need, they make significant adjustments to the work of these products. It can be a truncated demo version of the program, for the full functionality of which you will have to pay separately. It can be programs, stuffed with vile viruses. Malicious programs that crack your passwords, IP, bank accounts, can also get to your computer after installation.

But you are lucky, and there are no viruses and other problems after installation. Here are just updates and add-ons that are downloaded in the official versions of the programs, too. In some cases this is not so important, however, some users are fundamentally.

Finally, while working with illegal software, there may be problems in working, logging and hanging the computer. Even in the full version of the pirated product may not have all the functionality.

The state

Why does computer piracy damage the state? First of all, these are economic problems. Duplication and sale of unlicensed programs significantly reduces the state's profit from sales. Often, the amounts are simply collosatile, because we are talking about millions and billions of dollars.

The employment problem is also partly caused by the pirate industry. The state is not able to finance several thousand potential jobs. And the size of wages could also be much higher.

That's why computer piracy is detrimental to society.

Forms of computer piracy

Another reason why computer piracy is damaging to society is the diversity of forms of illegal business.

1. Copying products by the buyer. This is the simplest kind of piracy. The person who purchased the disc with the program can create an illegal copy of it.
2. Installing pirated software on a hard drive. When buying a computer or reinstalling the operating system, "pirates" are often equipped in advance with a computer illegal programs.
3. Large-scale production of unlicensed software. This includes the industrial copying and subsequent replication of fakes, their marketing in the market and, ultimately, making a profit.
4. Internet piracy. The most developed branch of copying software, after all the majority of owners of computers are also users of the Internet. Every day, from the file sharing sites, you download programs, movies and music. It is even difficult to imagine the extent of the pirate industry on the Internet.

Statistics

Why is computer piracy harmful to society? The answers are in the statistics:

• Total losses of software manufacturers amounted to 30-40 billion dollars.
• In 2008, the level of piracy in Russia was 87%. If the percentage had decreased by at least 10 points, the income from the IT sector would have doubled, and the number of jobs - by 30 thousand.
• In Russia, the loss of $ 4.5 billion was caused by pirates.
• By selling its products abroad, the US is losing 800 million dollars in Russia, 2.4 billion dollars in China and 1.6 billion dollars in Italy.

From the statistics it is clear that the problem of illegal copying of software is pursued by many countries of the world. Computer piracy damages the society of Russia, the United States, China, Italy, Venezuela and many CIS countries.

Conclusion

The spread of illegal software is one of the reasons for the economic decline of any country. Due to pirated copies, many users are faced with numerous problems of their computer. Everyone suffers: ordinary people, programmers, and the state. That's why computer piracy is detrimental to society.