Software piracy is the unauthorized copying, reproduction, use, or manufacture of software products. In some countries, up to 99 unauthorized copies are made for every authorized copy in use. Software piracy harms everyone in the software community including you, the end user. Piracy results in higher prices for duly licensed users, reduced levels of support, and delays in the funding and development of new products, causing the overall selection and quality of software to suffer. Piracy harms all software publishers, regardless of their size.
Software publishers spend years developing software for the public to use.
A portion of every dollar spent in purchasing original software is funneled back into research and development so that better, more advanced software products can be produced. When you purchase pirated software, your money goes directly into the pockets of software pirates instead. Software piracy also harms the local and national economies. Fewer legitimate software sales result in lost tax revenue and decreased employment. Software piracy greatly hinders the development of local software communities.