(a) Explain what is meant by software piracy. [1] (b) Describe two ways in which software piracy commonly occurs. [2] (c) Describe two methods software comp...
Question 1 Report
(a) Explain what is meant by software piracy. [1]
(b) Describe two ways in which software piracy commonly occurs. [2]
(c) Describe two methods software companies use to prevent piracy. [2]
Answer Details
(a) Software piracy is the unauthorised copying, distribution or use of copyrighted software without holding a valid licence or permission from the software's copyright owner. [1]
(b) Two common ways software piracy occurs:
- Downloading paid commercial software from unofficial or illegal websites that offer cracked versions for free, bypassing the developer's distribution and payment channels. [1]
- Sharing a single purchased licence among multiple users or installing it on more computers than the licence agreement permits, for example buying one licence but installing it across an entire office. [1]
(c) Software companies use various technical measures to prevent piracy:
- Product activation keys: a unique code must be entered during installation and verified with the company's server online, ensuring each copy is legitimately purchased and not reused. [1]
- Digital Rights Management (DRM): built-in restrictions control how the software can be installed, how many devices it can run on, and whether it can be copied, making it technically difficult to distribute pirated versions. [1]
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