Case

CASE: crime That Pays (and pretty well too) T.DEEPTHI 5133

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Software technology was facing the problem of digital piracy .Digital piracy is the illegal distribution and copying of software for personal and business use. In U.S software is automatically protected by federal copyright law from the moment of its creation. U.S copy right act grants the copyright owner ³the exclusive rights to protect the copyrighted work´ and to distribute the copies of it.  According to U.S federal law any one who violates the law for  copyright infringement are punished. illegal copy can land six figure fine and jail time. But in china digital piracy is very high and penalty is very less.

1.What is the relationship among governments, institutions, organizations and companies in developing legal codes to fight software piracy? 

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Industry associations BSA (Business software alliance), Software and Information Industry (SIIA) and international Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) made efforts to spur government to toughen laws. They work to promote legal online world by negotiating with governments and consumers in the international software and internet markets. Software makers ,governments and associations are acting singly and jointly to help police piracy.

WIPO pledged to protect intellectual property worldwide by developing IPR treaties.  hoping collective political arrangements and legal actions by companies, associations, governments, and institutions would lead to a decline in global software piracy. 

2.Should

the software companies ,industry associations ,home governments take the lead in dealing with the government of countries with high piracy rates why? 

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BSA reported that ,of all the packaged software installed on PCs worldwide in 2005 more than 35% was acquired illegally ±at a cost of $34 billion in losses to software makers and distributors which is more than in 2003 where loss was $29 billion. Lowering PC software piracy can have significant economic benefits to economies in the Asia Pacific.´ ³Now, more than ever, our global economy depends on a robust IT sector. Policies that promote innovation today ± including protection for intellectual property such as software ± will drive economic growth and prosperity in the future,´ BSA¶s efforts to combat software theft have continued to make some progress.

3.Can the software industry expect to control software piracy without relying on government ?why would the software company dislike greater government regulation?

In spite of the need for assistance and cooperation from all stakeholders, the software industry object greater  government regulation  There is a rapid innovation in IT and government regulation may slow down technological developments. 

4.How do you think consumers in high theft countries justify software piracy ?similarly what ideas or conditions lead to respect IPR s in low theft countries? 

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Consumers in high theft countries tend see property as being common to all and existing for the benefit of all²often they do not understand the basic concept of intellectual property rights. they want to acquire the product at the lowest possible cost and they believe that software makers should allow informational and technical wealth to be openly shared with customers They also feel that piracy is the most effective way of chasing with western monopolists who charge exorbitant prices . On the other hand, consumers in lower theft countries tend to share an individualist mindset; the concept of intellectual property rights is well understood and long established within their countries and cultures.

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Political and legal system is very strong in low theft countries