Introduction

It has been called a "victimless crime," and yet its victims report losses in the billions of dollars. Software piracy is looked down upon in our society, but many regard it as harmless, and not a big problem.

In fact, it is a big problem indeed. With the explosive growth of the Internet, and the affordability of devices like CD-burners, the number of pirated copies of software is rapidly increasing.

Especially in foreign countries, like Vietnam and China, piracy is endemic, with rates approaching 95%. It has been said that a single legal copy of software in China can spawn literally millions of illegal copies that circulate around the country.

In this report, we will look at some of the types of piracy common today, the ways in which corporations and the U.S. government have tried to fight piracy, and the possible future solutions to this mounting problem.