Many of the students readily admit that they and even their parents routinely copy music or video tapes that are also copyrighted intellectual property. Most would not dream of stealing a package of chewing gum from a store, but will pirate software or music worth hundreds of dollars. I think the answer lies in the nature of the property. If the chewing gum were taken it would no longer be on the shelf. With intellectual property, whether it is software, copyrighted music, books, etc., the property is still there.
Nothing seems to have been taken.
The crime in these cases is breaking the licensing or copyright agreement. It is not in the taking of or moving of the program itself. Yes, I did say crime. Illegal copying of software is a crime under state and federal law. Depending on how the electronic data are transferred it may, in many instances, constitute a felony.