Computer Ethics, Summer A 2001, Extra Credit Postings, Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Software Theft

http://www.dongles.com/products/cbox/desc_dongle.html: This link that I found is about hardware that can be used to protect against software theft. It is a device that can be connected to serial ports on a computer. It is a hardware key that uses codes and passwords embedded inside the key to control access to software applications.
http://www.computeruser.com/newstoday/00/04/07/news9.html: Hundreds of thousands of "warez and "appz" Web pages providing access to pirated software on the Internet are turning software piracy into an epidemic that could destroy the current e-commerce boom, according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an anti-piracy industry group based in Washington DC.
http://204.202.137.110/sections/tech/CNET/cnet_piracy0616.html: An annual study for the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and Software Publishers Association (SPA) estimated that 40 percent of new business applications installed last year were pirated copies.
http://www.conlab.com.au/HASP4.html: This is an attempt to prevent software piracy. They use hardware to prevent unauthorized software distribution.
http://www.bsa.org/usa/press/newsreleases/2000-07-19.112.phtml: Software Theft Cost the Industry Billions, the business software alliance it's trying to prevent software theft by encouraging governments to pass out laws against it.
http://www.caast.org/resources/default.asp?load=types: In this article Canadian anti-theft organization lists different types of software piracy. This article directly relates to the "Software theft" chapter we read and discussed recently.
http://www.fast.org.uk/: FAST (Federation Against Software Theft) is a unique association in the world that was created to raise the awareness of software piracy representing both software publishers and end users. In this site we can have more information about FAST, when it was created and other important objectives of the organization.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5904356.html?tag=mn_hd: Integrated circuit design software makers Avant and Cadence Design Systems to go to trial over allegations that Avant stole source code from Cadence and illegally used it in some of its products in 1994. This trial reflects the importance of trade secrets (related to software theft) and could also determine whether other companies will also file suit over similar cases in the future.
http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010312S0015: The following link informs that Electronic Arts and Nintendo have dropped a Piracy lawsuit against Yahoo. They reached an agreement where Yahoo will prevent (or attempt to) the sale of pirated software on their classified and auction sites.
http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2760606,00.html: Greg Sullivan, lead product manager for Microsoft's Windows XP, confirmed that tens (and not hundreds or thousands) of unauthorized users gained access to the latest build of Windows XP using a tester's login.
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2393620,00.html: Software Piracy: Using a special subpoena clause in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the BSA cracks down on individual "residential" pirates, not businesses or organizations.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5924431.html?tag=mn_hd: About 500 000 people downloaded the latest microsoft product (windows XP) after a tester posted on the internet the login and password to where people could download the software. This relates to the current topic because people are using software without paying for it.
http://ase.isu.edu/ase01_07/ase01_07/bookcase/ref_sh/foldoc/87/101.htm: This article deals with the issue of software piracy. It informs us that it is difficult to protect software because pirates find ways to break into the locked security systems. Consequently, duplicating the software and globally reducing software companies' revenue; to up to $15 billion.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5772287.html: The following link is an article that is directly related to topic of Software Piracy that we are currently covering in class. The article is about Microsoft Office XP being pirated overseas in Malaysia. It has already surfaced on the streets there for a price of about $2.60 while the asking price is $520. Part of the actual source code of the program was published first on the internet weeks ago. The released date in the U.S. for Microsoft Office XP is May 31,2001.
http://www.forbes.com/1999/09/13/feat.html: This Forbes article contains stats on software piracy, and explains ways to protecy your software.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/05/05/software.pirates/: A federal grand jury has indicted 17 people for allegedly conspiring to infringe the copyright of more than 5,000 computer software programs that were available through a hidden Internet site.
http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/internetcrime/2000/03/03/temple0303_01.html: This site shows how a university was caught using unlicensed software. The university who is supposed to be teaching its students that software piracy is wrong, is actually the culprits.
http://www.winplanet.com/winplanet/news/3008/1/: This article is about how the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) filed lawsuit alleging violations of the Copyright Act in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on a person selling pirated software on popular auction sites.
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199902/12/0212179.htm: As authors of our textbook mention in chapter 3, computer theft is the "king" in Asia; here I present an article that talks about the fight of Hong Kong Customs Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau against syndicates "engaged in the production, distribution and retail of pirated CD-ROMs in Wan Chai." The result of this operation was $1.1 million worth of "pirated CD-ROMs and related equipment."
http://www.msnbc.com/news/576335.asp: Software piracy grew in 2000 more than half a decade. Software companies have lost more that 4 billion dollars just in 2000 alone due to the piracy in Asia-Pacific countries like Vietnam with only 3 perscent of the software use are legal, China and Russia follow among the highest coutries with software piracy. Because of this Software companies like Microsoft will require software product activation, but already downloadable program to disable its copy protection.
www.hindubusinessline.com/businessline/2001/01/22/stories/152239mc.htm: Software piracy in India worries Adobe. Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications on indiaserver.com