This document discusses various aspects of intellectual property and copyright protection related to software. It defines software piracy as illegal copying of software combined with unauthorized duplication of trademarks. It then discusses different types of software piracy, including copying within organizations beyond licensing limits, downloading from online sources without a license, and bundling of unlicensed software with computer hardware sales. The document also notes that the software industry in India is growing rapidly but faces significant challenges from copyright piracy.

1. Copy rights & Intellectual property

2. Intellectual Property The term Intellectual Property reflects the idea that its subject matter is the product of the mind or the intellect. E.g. computer program WIPO Encouraging creativity and innovation

3. Intellectual property Many Countries are producers and exporters of copyright materials like software, cinematograph films and music. Measures are taken to protect the authors and strengthen enforcement of copyright.

4. What is Software Piracy? Software Piracy or counterfeiting is defined as the illegal copying of software combined with unauthorised duplication of genuine trademarks and documents Software Copying Generally, licenses for one or a few copies of a computer package / programme may be purchased for a business or in a workplace. As, requirements increase, illegal copies are made from one of the licensed programmes and installed in other computers. In addition, office software is often illegally copied into the home computer of an employee or vice-versa.

5. Network Piracy Software piracy often occurs on computer networks when a software program is accessed by more users than what a license permits. Many network user organisations fail to realise this as a violation of copyright law E.g., ERP software is sold usually on per- user license basis If more users are using the same package then user organization should pay license fees to the software vendor.

6. Internet Piracy With the advent of internet and the increasing use of internet, the software piracy has grown dramatically in recent years. Through Internet, programs are uploaded to bulletin board systems or commercial on-line services which, in turn, can be downloaded or sent via electronic mail to individuals who may not hold a license to use these software.

7. Computer hardware resellers The sellers of computer software particularly the unauthorised retailers are also involved in selling pirated softwares. They simply copy the original (licensed) softwares into floppy discs or in CD ROMs and sell them to the end users or install them in users' hardware. Computer dealers more particularly, the unauthorised hardware suppliers who assemble components and sell computers to the users with software already installed. Unfortunately, in most of the cases these computers are loaded with unlicensed softwares . In such cases, unless a license and software manuals are provided with the sale, it is likely that programs have been illegally copied.

8. IT Industry The computer software perhaps is the fastest growing industry in India. The sector is growing at an annual compound growth rate of over 50 per cent during the recent years Do not mix up the software service with the software package export Perhaps, software companies are happy in exporting mainly the services since they do not have to worry much about the copyright piracy as has been taking place in the packaged software

9. Shareware / Free software Open source The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public Licenses are intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users.