Are you Protected?

It’s true. Pirated software can actually harm your computer. However, there are three hints that can help protect your computer from the viruses that manifest themselves throughout the pirated software. (These examples are directed towards pirated Microsoft retail software.) So, how do you know if it’s a fake?

Hint Number One:

“A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a label that helps you identify genuine software. COA isn’t a software license, but rather an identifier that helps in determining whether or not the Microsoft software you are running is genuine.”



The label underneath Microsoft is the COA to look for when purchasing retail software.

Having a COA on your product means that your software isn’t pirated and infected with viruses. When you see this, now you know that it’s real.

Hint Number Two:

“Counterfeit software is the result of unauthorized copying, reproduction, or manufacture of software products. Counterfeit software often looks authentic and is sometimes distributed in packaging that imitates the original manufacturer's packaging.”

How do you know it’s a fake? Well, knowing that it’s too good to be true can be another hint. If you know that it should be pricier, and it comes across as an unbelievable deal, then you have to know that something is up.


This is an example of a pirated XBOX game, Mission Impossible. This game can ultimately destroy your game system, leaving you with a broken XBOX. Now that’s not fun is it?

Hint Number Three:

Another way to know if you software is pirated is if the product activation code doesn’t work. It takes only three steps to activate your software.

1. Select an activation method (internet or phone)
2. Microsoft verifies the license
3. The license is confirmed and the product is activated

Make sure before you buy a product that it has an activation code on it. This will guarantee you that it is not a fake.

Well that’s basically three ways to help you know if what your buying is a fake or not.

Microsoft says, “Pirated software hurts everyone—from software developers to retail store owners, and ultimately to all software users. Furthermore, the illegal duplication and distribution of software has a significant impact on the economy.” I believe that this is true because eventually if people keep on pirating software, our economy will lose a lot of money. But pirated software isn’t that great anyways. Your computer begins break down by not allowing the user to download certain programs, your hardware will begin to erase, and your computer will eventually mal-function. So why do people buy pirated software? They don’t benefit from it, other than they got it for really cheap.

Sources

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa&displaylang=en

Criminal Offences

A person may go to jail or face a fine when they pirate software. The following are examples of pirating:

• “Makes unauthorised copies e.g. burning music files or films on to CD-Rs or DVD-Rs;
• Distributes, sells or hires out unauthorised copies of CDs, VCDs and DVDs;
• On a larger scale, distributes unauthorised copies as a commercial enterprise on the internet;
• Possesses unauthorised copies with a view to distributing, selling or hiring these to other people;
• While not dealing commercially, distributes unauthorised copies of software packages, books, music, games, and films on such a scale as to have a measurable impact on the copyright owner's business;
• Publishing someone else's original copy work and claiming you have made it. (This is known as plagiarism and is completely different from copyright infringement, but laws concerning it come under the section of copyright law in some countries);
• Certain copyrights allow Archival copies of software to be made however these are not to be distributed.”

The Toronto Star stated that before the movie Bon Cop Bad Cop was released, a man in Montreal was found selling 2500 copies of the movie door-to-door. This evidently led the Legislation of Canada to make it a Criminal Offence if a person records a movie in a theater. When you record a movie illegal in a movie theater you could:

• Become liable to imprisonment up to two years; and
• Recording for commercial purposes of a movie shown in a theatre – you come become liable to imprisonment up to five years.

Canada was once said to have, “At one point responsible for half of pirated films in global circulation.”

“When the United States made some changes to their legal regime [we] saw cam cording increase in Canada so that would be a good indication to me that getting some greater support does make a difference.”

Obviously, if the criminal code isn’t put into effect, then more pirated movies will be on the market for purchase. Sometimes its great to see a movie you love over and over again before it comes onto DVD, but you have to admit that the quality of the product isn’t that great. From experience I know what this is like. I borrowed my friend’s DVD who, brought it from a store in China Town, and when I was watching it, people were getting up from their seats and walking to the other side, blocking the picture for a few moments. Then again, they would come back and sit in their seats again. As well, half-way through the movie, the voices of the actors weren’t following how their lips were moving, making it very, very, very unrealistic, almost like a foreign movie with English actors replacing the language. After watching that, I don’t think I watched a pirated movie since. Actually, no I’m lying; I just watched a pirated copy of Transformers the other day with my friend, whoops.

Check out these videos:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eMhGzoLx0qo (south park)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pnjyrzkepo (advestiment)

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/220696

http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=c59&source=library_prb&Parl=39&Ses=1

What is Piracy?

What is Piracy? Piracy is the unauthorized reproduction or use of a copyrighted book, recording, television program, patented invention, trademarked product, etc. Today, billions of people download music from the internet onto their mp3 players and download movies onto burned CD's. Even though piracy is illegal many people choose to rebel against the law and provide the public with access to the world of entertainment for free.

In the United States, the movie studios have lost a total of $6.1 billion dollars worldwide, and $1.3 billion dollars due to piracy in the US alone. What do people download the most of the internet? Well according to a study in 2006, 60% of video files downloaded was adult-based, 20% were TV shows, and 5% were mainstream movies.

A survey in 2007 wanted to found out how many people choose to buy CD's vs how many people download music. Findings suggest that 43% of people download tracks without paying for them, an increase from 36% last year and 40% in 2005.

I believe that piracy will eventually destroy the movie and music industry. If movies and music cannot make money, then no more movies and music albums will be created. However, that's not entirely true. Harry Potter fans wait eagerly for the next movie to premier. After watching the movie fans may want to buy the pirated version to watch it over again. However, when the actual movie comes out onto DVD, fans will definitely run to the stores to buy the movie. As well, die-hard fans buy concert tickets to watch their favourite artist perform on stage. From one concert an artist can make millions of dollars.

"Piracy can be reversed if there's a will to do so," Mr. Hart said. But honestly, who's willing to pay for music and movies, when you can get them for free off of the internet?




This shows the loss of millions of dollars from software piracy around the world.

Sources

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070730.wgtpiracy30/BNStory/Technology/home

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement_of_audio-visual_works

http://www.havocscope.com/wiki/Movie_Piracy

www.aic.gov.au/stats/crime/piracy/