Abstract Software theft should be the concern of every software user, as the theft of software drives up the cost of software, and ultimately lowers the incentive to release quality software for general purchase. This paper examines the means by which software can be protected, focusing mainly on technical means of preventing unauthorised execution. It looks at the desired properties of a software licence management system and examines FLEXlm, the most popular UNIX licence management system. Finally, some key technologies are brought together to see how they could be combined to produce a better licence management scheme. It has been estimated that for every piece of PC software sold, at least one other copy has been obtained illegally.
Software piracy is a major threat to the production of quality software.
Every stolen copy of a program represents lost income to the software developer. To cover the investment made in developing the software, the developer must then charge more for each copy. This just creates a vicious circle, however, because when software is more expensive the incentive to steal increases. It is for this reason that all software users have an interest in the protection of computer software. Software has an intangible quality.