3.+Copyright+and+Software

===  The Business Software Alliance (BSA) states “software piracy is the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted software. It can be done by copying, downloading, sharing, selling, or installing multiple copies onto personal or work computers (Business Software Alliance, 2000-2009)”. === Software authors need to be protected by copyright because if someone uses their ideas in creating the software, without asking the owner's permission, they will obviously lose money. Therefore, if someone does copy the owners work, they will get into serious trouble.
 * === Why do software authors need to be protected by copyright? ===

In 2005, software piracy hit $545 million in the year (McBride, 2005). It included operating systems, consumer software and local market software. The BSA (Business Software Alliance) of Australia believes Australia’s software piracy rate is higher than other developed countries. It continues to be a major challenge in Australia. Furthermore a third of all software has been pirated and as a result it will continue to restrain the development of the IT industry. In 2009, 26 per cent of all PC software was pirated, whereas the previous year it was 28 per cent, which is not really a significant drop  (Biztech, 2009) . 
 * === How does software piracy become a cost to the Australian computer industry each year? ===

The result of software piracy is that you could face a civil action or even under some circumstances criminal penalties (IPeuropAware). Large software companies are very alert in implementing their rights, especially against businesses. If the company is ignoring copyright law, an employee can get that company into serious trouble. Therefore, according to IPeuropAware the consequences might include “civil damages, fines, police arrest of your company's computers, adverse publicity, and even the criminal prosecution of the individuals responsible”. However you should consult a lawyer on one condition, if you are accused of software piracy and the matter cannot be sorted out simply and politely.McBride states that “software piracy costs local developers as well as international manufacturers, reduces tax revenue and costs jobs” (McBride, 2005).  Software piracy can also lead to the owner being broke, as they obviously gain a lot of money from creating the software.
 * === What is the result of software piracy? ===