Many businesses, both large and small, face serious legal risks because of software piracy. Under the law, a company can be held liable for its employees actions. If an employee is installing unauthorized software copies on company computers or acquiring illegal software through the Internet, the company can be sued for copyright infringement. This is true even if the company s management was unaware of the employee s actions. Quite simply, to make or download unauthorized copies of software is to break the law, no matter how many copies are involved.
Software theft is a serious matter.
If you or your company is caught copying software, you may be held liable under both civil and criminal law. If the copyright owner brings a civil action against you, the owner can seek to stop you from using its software immediately and can also request monetary damages. In addition, the government can criminally prosecute you for copyright infringement. Your first responsibility as a software user is to purchase only legitimate software products. When buying software, make sure you get genuine disks, manuals, and license documentation.