My friend uses keygens and serial numbers to get stuff is this very bad ? and what could happen to him ? Could he get caught very easily ?
2007-03-03 12:45:08 · 7 answers · asked by I hate dial up 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
if he dont register the software he should be ok, its not right but many people use keygens and cracked software but they wont admit it.
2007-03-03 12:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by INOA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Penalties can be as high as $150000 for each software title infringed.
Quoted from mcafee:
"Anti-piracy
Many businesses and organizations are not aware that that they may be using illegal software. Illegally distributing and using software is a significant problem that hurts McAfee® and other vendors. Our System Protection Solutions and Network Protection Solutions portfolios exist to assure that the technology that powers your business are security and availabile—from the desktop to the network core, and across the servers that you rely on to deliver your competitive advantage. We want you to have the information you need so you get maximum value our productsâlegally.
Software piracy is a big problem. Figures from the Business Software Alliance show the industry loses nearly US$33 billion annually from software piracy. That translates to 35 percent, which tells us more than one in every three applications used in business is used illegally.
McAfee is committed to educating our authorized users and, when necessary, bringing those violating our licenses into compliance."
More knowledge can be obtain in the following link:
http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/antipiracy_policy.html
Because this is a big issue, I will let you, the reader, the asker, and the answerers read. Enjoy!
2007-03-03 20:58:47 · answer #2 · answered by runningonthinice 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes this is illegal and the same as stealing in my opinion...
Quite simply, to make or download unauthorized copies of software is to break the law, no matter how many copies are involved. Whether you are casually making a few copies for friends, loaning disks, distributing and/or downloading pirated software via the Internet, or buying a single software program and then installing it on 100 of your company’s personal computers, you are committing a copyright infringement.
It doesn’t matter if you are doing it to make money or not — 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.
The copyright owner may then choose between actual damages, which includes the amount it has lost because of your infringement as well as any profits attributable to the infringement, and statutory damages, which can be as much as $150,000 for each program copied.
In addition, the government can criminally prosecute you for copyright infringement. If convicted, you can be fined up to $250,000, or sentenced to jail for up to five years, or both.
2007-03-03 20:52:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes what your friend is doing is illegal and quite wrong alot of people work very hard behind the scenes on software development and deserve to be compensated for their efforts and the many hours spent debugging and testing software people enjoy.
Tell your friend to stop and buy the software don't crack or pirate!
2007-03-03 21:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Very illegal, can be caught easily especialy if its a microsoft program as they ping gates servers a minimum of once a week. 10,000 dollar fine for each infraction and 5 years in jail for each. Good luck.
2007-03-03 20:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by jay_m69 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Only if you think stealing is bad.
2007-03-03 20:48:14 · answer #6 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
how is it illegal? maybe you are not describing the situation fully.
2007-03-03 21:39:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋