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Is it Legal or Illegal?
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Based on what you know, which of these actions would be legal? 1. Installing the latest commercial software program from a friend – just to try it out for a while. INCORRECT. When you create a unique work - a term paper, a short story, the music or lyrics of a song - you have created intellectual property. Time and effort went into your creation and because it is "property," you actually own it. You can keep it for yourself, prevent others from using it, give it away, or sell it for profit. Software engineers feel the same way about their products. They don't want users to capitalize on their creation by making copies of the software programs for their friends or sharing disks. If you install the software in ways that the license prohibits, you are violating copyright law. CORRECT! When you create a unique work - a term paper, a short story, the music or lyrics of a song - you have created intellectual property. Time and effort went into your creation and because it is "property," you actually own it. You can keep it for yourself, prevent others from using it, give it away, or sell it for profit. Software engineers feel the same way about their products. They don't want users to capitalize on their creation by making copies of the software programs for their friends or sharing disks. If you install the software in ways that the license prohibits, you are violating copyright law. 2. Loading the latest version of a program on your computer when you already have an older version installed. INCORRECT. Software programs are constantly being updated. When you install legal software on your computer or network you are eligible to receive the benefits of upgraded versions of the software. Using unlicensed software doesn't allow you to receive updates or the new versions of the software from the software publisher. CORRECT! Software programs are constantly being updated. When you install legal software on your computer or network you are eligible to receive the benefits of upgraded versions of the software. Using unlicensed software doesn't allow you to receive updates or the new versions of the software from the software publisher. 3. Buying a single-user commercial software program and installing it on multiple computers. INCORRECT. Buying a single-user software program and installing it on multiple computers is against the law. However, many software licenses allow the software user to load the software onto a single computer and to make one back-up copy for archival or disaster recovery purposes. CORRECT! Buying a single-user software program and installing it on multiple computers is against the law. However, many software licenses allow the software user to load the software onto a single computer and to make one back-up copy for archival or disaster recovery purposes. 4. Copying a new commercial software program to share with friends. INCORRECT. If you copy, distribute or install the software program in a way that the license prohibits, including swapping disks with friends, you are violating copyright law. Many software manufacturers offer student discounts on software programs. CORRECT! If you copy, distribute or install the software program in a way that the license prohibits, including swapping disks with friends, you are violating copyright law. Many software manufacturers offer student discounts on software programs.
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